Italian Open: Who Is Alexander Zverev’s R3 Opponent? Everything to Know About ATP Youngster Luciano Darderi

Young gun Luciano Darderi is ready to challenge Alexander Zverev tonight in the Rome Open Round of 32. The 22-year-old Italian has already notched two wins in the tournament, sparking fan interest in this rising ATP star. Can Darderi continue his climb, or will Zverev extinguish his challenge?

Born on February 14, 2002, Luciano Darderi, who is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English, grew up idolizing Roger Federer. With a dream of becoming a professional tennis player, he made his debut in 2023. And within this short period, he has already achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 54. But his interest in sports is not confined to tennis alone.

Like many football fans, Darderi’s favorite player is Lionel Messi. However, his true passion lies in tennis. Playing on clay excites him the most, and naturally, his favorite tournament is Roland Garros, where he wishes to play someday. But the first time he proved his prowess on-court was during his first-ever ATP win at the Cordoba Open in 2023. 

After this massive kick-start to his career, Luciano Darderi soon claimed the Challenger title in Todi later that year. Using his powerful forehand strokes, which he considers his favorite, Darderi did not have to look back after that. Continuing this streak, he further achieved another victory in Lima as well. This ultimately pushed him to make his top-125 debut in November 2023. However, Luciano Darderi, who is currently playing in his favorite city on tour-Rome, made a breakthrough in 2024.

This is because, in the Cordoba Open of this year, he went on to defeat several higher-ranked players to ultimately qualifying for the main draw and recording his next five ATP wins. In a major upset, Darderi knocked off defending champion and Sebastián Báez, marking his first victory against a top-30 player and propelling him into his first ATP final.

As a result, he climbed up 60 positions to the top 80 ranking in February. Born in Argentina, Darderi’s first ATP title in Cordoba made it even more special for him. After his victory, he admitted, “All this means a lot to me, especially being in Cordoba and in Argentina, where I feel very good.” But his ascent to the top was far from over.

Reaching the semifinals of ATP Houston and Challenger Cagliari, IT, Luli again provided a glimpse of his prowess on-court. Talking about his style of play, he once said, “My main characteristic is to be aggressive with my tennis, to have a strong character that means when I transform myself, I start to play better.” However, he also explained how, behind his achievements, there are several inspirational figures who propel him forward.

Luciano Darderi shares how his father helped him achieve his dreams in tennis

Born to Andrea Germino and Luciano Enrique Darderi, Luciano Darderi began playing tennis in his hometown, Villa Gesell. And it was his tennis playing father, who coached him throughout his life. Although they traveled to many countries to improve his training, Darderi’s father’s support in his tennis endeavors remained the same. 

Therefore, when he achieved his first ATP title, he acknowledged his father’s efforts and said, “In my tennis career I have to highlight above all my dad, who has been with me since I was a little boy. We have been working together for the same dream. And I have never had any other coach than him.”

However, it was not only his father, Luciano Darderi also mentioned the constant cheers that he received from his whole family. It includes his mother, Andrea, and his 16-year-old brother Vito Antonio Darderi, who also has dreams of playing tennis like his older brother. With love and support from his family, Darderi is ready to make his mark in the tennis world. But as of now, fans are waiting to see how he navigates around his next match in Rome.