Smoke from Coppa Italia Final Fireworks Halts Rafael Jodar Versus Luciano Darderi Rome Clash

Luciano Darderi versus Rafael Jodar‘s Italian Open quarterfinal match on Wednesday (May 13) was suspended due to smoke. This happened in the first set.

Jodar had a 6-5 lead when the official had to halt the match because of the smoke from the Coppa Italia football final. The match was held at the Stadio Olimpico, which is 500 meters away from Foro Italico. Due to visibility issues on Campo Centrale, play was halted for 18 minutes.

Watch the video here:

Play is currently suspended in Rome because the Coppa Italia final was held 500 meters away and they shot off fireworks at the final whistle, liberating so much smoke that it’s now impossible for Jodar and Darderi to play

God I love Italy pic.twitter.com/77bNXt6qCF

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 13, 2026

When play resumed, Darderi held his serve and forced the tie-breaker and won it. The home favorite then squandered a 3-0 lead as well as two match points in the second set before double-bageling Jodar in the next set to clinch a 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-0 win in three hours and eight minutes. The match ended at 2:02 a.m. local time.

The court in the Rafa Jodar and Luciano Darderi match in Rome is covered in a fog of smoke from the fireworks that went off at the football stadium next door.

Very tough to see… ELC can’t track the ball… so the match is delayed.

Wow.

Never seen a smoke like this on a… pic.twitter.com/PGRm848VoL

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 13, 2026

I think it’s the best win of my career because of the crowd and everything here in Rome. First time in the semifinals, it’s a dream to play here. Yeah, it was difficult because we started around 11, the court was very slow. Rafa is an amazing player. He’s so young, just 19 years old. I had my chances in the 2nd set, but then he played just amazing. I just kept fighting, and I’m very happy about that.

Luciano Darderi said during his on-court interview

Darderi has become the eighth Italian to reach the semifinals of the Rome Masters 1000 event in the Open Era. Jodar was bidding to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal. Before the Italian Open, he played his career’s first Masters 1000 quarterfinal at the Madrid Open but failed to go past eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Luciano Darderi analyzes his match against Alexander Zverev

Prior to his win over Rafael Jodar, Luciano Darderi saved four match points against two-time Italian Open champion Alexander Zverev in the fourth round. The 1–6, 7–6(12–10), 6–0 win was also his career’s first top 10 win.

Undoubtedly, it has been the most important match of my career. Against Zverev in Rome, the first match of the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000. It is the most beautiful and exciting match. Everything started with 5-4 in the second set when he served to win the match with new balls. At that moment, he, who had been serving at 220 km/h until then, made a couple of double faults that allowed me back into the match.

Luciano Darderi said at the press conference

Darderi dashed Sascha’s hope of ending his title drought, as the last time he clinched a title was at the 2025 Munich Open. Before this tournament, Darderi had never reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament.

I seized the opportunity. At 5-5 0-30, the match changed, in my opinion. I thought that if I had won that game, the match could have turned. In the tie-break, I was very tense. In the third set, I managed to find my best tennis.

Luciano Darderi added

Prior to arriving in Rome, the three-time Major finalist reached the first final of the season at the Madrid Open, but he failed to go past Jannik Sinner, registering his ninth consecutive defeat at the hands of the four-time Major champion.

Darderi will next be locking horns with Casper Ruud, who defeated Karen Khachanov in three sets. The Norwegian ace will be playing the Italian Open semifinal for the fourth time in his career. The only Masters 1000 title that the three-time Grand Slam finalist has lifted is the 2025 Madrid Open. But he failed to defend the title this year, losing to Alexander Blockx in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Rafael Nadal Shuts Down Real Madrid Presidency Rumors: “These Reports Are Not True”