Luciano Darderi delivered a breakthrough performance at the Rome Masters, reaching his first career Masters 1000 semifinal after a dramatic late-night victory over Rafael Jodar, winning 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-0.
The quarterfinal was heavily affected by unusual conditions, beginning late due to rain and later interrupted by smoke drifting from a nearby Coppa Italia football final. The haze caused visibility issues on court and even disrupted the electronic line-calling system, adding to the tension of an already tight contest.
Despite the interruptions, Darderi stayed composed to take the opening set in a tiebreak. He then built a strong lead in the second set, going up 3-0, but Jodar responded with a strong fightback, saving two match points and forcing a deciding set.
In the final set, Darderi regained control after a long and demanding service game that shifted momentum in his favour. He then raced through the decider 6-0 to seal victory shortly after 2 a.m., marking the biggest win of his career.
Darderi described the result as especially meaningful given the atmosphere in Rome and the support of the home crowd, calling it his first true breakthrough at this level.
The win places him among a select group of Italian players to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal since the format was introduced in 1990, alongside names such as Jannik Sinner, Fabio Fognini, and Matteo Berrettini.
He now faces a major test against Casper Ruud in the semifinals. Ruud advanced after a three-set win over Karen Khachanov, and the upcoming match will be the first meeting between the two players as Darderi looks to continue his remarkable run in Rome.
