Luciano Darderi, end of dream: Casper Ruud flies to final in Rome

Casper Ruud won the final of the Internazionali di Roma by overcoming Luciano Darderi with a clear 6-1 6-1. The score only partly tells the story of a match marked by the Italian’s physical condition and an almost impeccable management by the Norwegian, who was able to take advantage of his opponent’s difficulties from the very first games. However, the Foro Italico audience greets Darderi with heartfelt applause, after a week of tennis at the highest level.

The first set is quickly addressed: Ruud takes the court, responds deep and immediately puts pressure in response, snatching the serve several times from a contracted Darderi and often in trouble in the exchange. The Italian tries to hold on with some acceleration and a good first, but the Norwegian’s continuity on defense and offense makes the difference. The games flow quickly and the set closes with no real glimmer of a comeback.

In between also come weather complications with rain interrupting the match and lengthening the wait at the Foro Italico. On the resumption, Darderi tries to fight back with a few flashes of pride, finding brilliant solutions at times and nullifying some heavy break points, but the feeling is that his energy is almost exhausted after a wearisome week and an earlier marathon that lasted hours. Ruud, fresher and tidier, on the other hand, continues to manage rhythm and exchanges with great lucidity.

In the second set, the match definitely slips to the side of the Norwegian, who immediately accelerates with immediate breaks and does not concede any openings. Even in the few hard-fought games, Darderi only manages to isolate a few quality points, but without finding continuity or overturning the inertia. Ruud quickly closes the match, confirming his solidity and peeling off the pass to the final, while the Italian exits to applause after an otherwise valuable run in the Roman tournament.