Great feat by Luciano Darderi, Alexander Zverev can do nothing
Superb feat by Luciano Darderi at the Internazionali d’Italia: the 2002-class tennis player beat Alexander Zverev in a comeback and earned a place in the quarterfinals. Awaiting him is the Spaniard Rafael Jódar, number 34 in the ATP ranking.
The first set was dominated by Zverev, who was very good at imposing his own rhythm from the back of the court and conceding very little, finishing in just 30 minutes with a score of 6-1.
The German also started the second partial well and, after a small lapse on serve, immediately regained control and flew to 4-2 giving the impression that he could quickly close the match. From that moment, however, the match turned completely. Some sudden errors cracked the German’s certainties and Darderi grew progressively dragged also by the enthusiasm of the Foro Italico audience.
The Italian managed to bring himself back into balance and take the set to the tie-break where the decisive moment of the match arrived. Zverev wasted as many as four match points, complicit in heavy errors and two double faults in the most delicate moments, and Darderi took advantage of them with great lucidity and character by imposing himself 12-10 and completely reopening the challenge.
In the third set the German tennis player mentally took the hit and completely lost intensity and concentration. Darderi, on the contrary, was very good at pushing with confidence and aggressiveness, dominating the final partial without leaving a single game to his opponent. The 6-0 final certifies one of the most resounding surprises of the tournament and gives the Blue access to the quarterfinals in Rome.
