On May 13, 2026, Luciano Darderi demonstrated remarkable resilience and composure to overcome a significant challenge and secure a place in the semifinals of the Italian Open. Facing the young talent Rafael Jodar, Darderi triumphed in a match that extended past 2 a.m. local time, concluding a grueling contest characterized by a lengthy smoke delay and intense gameplay.
The match was momentarily halted during the first set due to smoke drifting from fireworks set off in a nearby soccer stadium celebrating Inter Milan’s victory in the Italian Cup final. Darderi expressed frustration as the visibility diminished, impacting not only his ability to see but also interfering with the electronic line-calling technology. After approximately 20 minutes, play resumed, and Darderi managed to gather himself to take the set to a tiebreaker, where he initially found himself trailing 2-5. However, his determination shone through as he rallied to win the tiebreak 7-6(5).
In the second set, Darderi started strong, breaking Jodar’s serve early. Nevertheless, the 19-year-old Jodar showcased impressive resilience by breaking back, saving two match points, and ultimately taking the set 7-5. Darderi, undeterred, dominated the final set with a commanding performance, sealing his victory with Jodar sending a forehand into the net. The final score read 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-0.
Reflecting on his journey through the match, Darderi remarked, “It was really a battle. After the second set, I never thought I’d win, but I just tried to take it game by game, ball by ball. I pushed a little bit more in the third set, and physically I won it there.” He credited the late-night crowd for their support and expressed his excitement at reaching the semifinals for the first time in a Masters 1000 event.
Jodar’s remarkable run as a teenager continues, as he becomes only the second player since Rafael Nadal in 2005 to reach the quarterfinals of both the Madrid and Rome tournaments in the same season.
In the other semifinal, Darderi will encounter Casper Ruud, who advanced past 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 after battling through a rain delay that postponed the start of the second set for over two hours. Ruud capitalized on his momentum after the break, breaking Khachanov’s serve twice in the decisive set and closing the match on his second match point, marking a solid performance from the 23rd-ranked player.
As the tournament progresses, Darderi’s tenacity and Ruud’s consistency will undoubtedly make their upcoming match a thrilling encounter.
