Madrid, Luciano Darderi struggles but surrenders to Taylor Fritz
Luciano Darderi – Taylof Fritz (6-7 4-6)
Luciano Darderi is eliminated in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open. After his first victory in a Masters 1000, achieved with Gael Monfils, the Italian failed to repeat, and è was forced to surrender to Taylor Fritz, number 13 in the ATP rankings and 12th seeded seed, who è imposed 7-6 6-4 after an hour and 25 minutes of play.
Fritz started strong, with three aces in the opening game. Darderi però is unimpressed, responding blow by blow, sticking to his opponent. The Italian-Argentinian has a single moment of difficulty in the sixth game when he has to face three break points but is saved. It thus comes to the tie-break, dominated by the American, who wins it by 7 points to 1.
In the second partial Luciano accuses a bit of the backlash and in the third game he suffers the break. Fritz però fails to confirm it, letting his opponent take it back. At 2-2 Darderi, however, surrenders the serve again and this time Fritz doesn't let it go to waste, keeping the break lead until the final 6-4.
Darderi thus has to say goodbye to the Spanish tournament, with the chance, however, to obtain a new 'best ranking' (in the live ranking è number 55), while Fritz enters the third round where he will have to face Sebastian Baez of Argentina, who overcame Frenchman Luca Van Assche in three sets (6-4 6-7 6-3).
