Unprecedented Champion: Luciano Darderi Wins Córdoba Open Tennis Tournament

02/11/2024 9:47 p.m. Updated on 02/11/2024 9:48 p.m.

After a long week, the Cordoba Open It ended. And in its conclusion, left an unprecedented champion on the circuit: Luciano Darderi (136th). The 21-year-old player, who was born in Argentina but represents Italy, established himself in the first tournament of the South American clay court tour after beat Facundo Bagnis (207th) 6-1 and 6-4. It is the first ATP title of the young man’s career, and with this victory he was guaranteed to enter the top 100 for the first time in his career.

The Italian-Argentine had to win seven games in eight days before becoming champion. Because due to his ranking, Darderi did not directly access the main draw of the tournament, but rather had to play the qualification. Therefore, his path to the title began last Sunday and not a few days later, when the main draw began.

In the final, he faced a tennis player who was on equal terms, since Bagnis also came from the qualy. However, the age difference between Darderi and Facu – 33 years old – was noticeable, especially in the first set. The 21-year-old was much stronger physically and he showed it, in which he broke his rival’s serve on two occasions to manage to stay for the first set without problems.

Everything seemed to indicate that everything would continue with the same trend, since Luciano once again held the Rosario’s serve in the first game of the second set. However, There appeared the fighting soul of Bagnis, who never gave up and managed to equalize the matter in the fourth game of said set.

Darderi, champion for the first time. (Córdoba Open Press)

There, the match can be summarized in the dedication of Facu – who did not give up a single ball – and the impetus of Darderi, who was the one who took the most risks and dominated almost the entire match. A dominion that would have the reward of him, since the Italian-Argentine achieved a new break in the ninth game, which allowed him to serve for the match and take the victory after 1h25min.

This is the first ATP title for Darderi, who with this victory will climb 60 places to 76th in the world rankings. For his part, after a great week, the man from Rosario climbed 69 positions and will be 138th in the world.

“I can’t believe I won my first ATP. Last week I lost in the first round of a Challenger (a lower category), so I’m very happy. Coming from qualifying and winning the tournament is very special. I was 130 in the world and now I make sure to enter Roland Garros and Wimbledon, that in a dream for me. Bigger things are coming and I have to be prepared for this level,” declared the new champion.

The Italian-Argentine reached the final from qualification. In his first match of the week, he beat the Italian Alessandro Giannessi (222°) by 6-2 and 6-0, and later to Andrea Collarini (294°) by 6-3 and 7-6 (3) to gain access to the MD. Already in the main draw, Darderi defeated the Chilean Tomás Barrios Vera (108th) by 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2 in R1, to the Austrian Sebastian Ofner (38th and fourth seed) 6-0 and 6-3 in the round of 16, to the German Yannick Hanfmann (59th) 7-6 (2) and 6-2 in the quarterfinals and the defending champion Sebastian Baez (26th) 6-1, 3-6 and 6-3 in the semifinals. An incredible journey, which ended in an unbeatable way.

He was born in Argentina, but represents Italy

Although it appears as tano, the kid has the albiceleste color in his blood. When he was 12 years old, Darderi was playing youth tournaments, but he changed his nationality to test himself with different European players, as he told Olé a few years ago.

His grandfather was Italian, so he got the possibility of having dual nationality and he didn’t even hesitate. On the other hand, his father is also his coach and the one who made him play tennis. Now, more mature and with a lot of potential to exploit, the boy achieved an enormous achievement: becoming champion of the Córdoba Open.

2024-02-12 00:47:53
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