Luciano Darderi, a dream week at the ATP in Córdoba: how he went from the beaches of Gesell to choosing to be Italian

The Italian flag appears next to his name Luciano Darderi, which was classified this Thursday for the first time in his career in the quarter-finals of an ATP circuit tournament, In Cordoba. However, this talented 21-year-old is more Argentine than dulce de leche and enjoys playing in the province of Fernet like a child accompanied by the warmth of an audience recognizable in the vast world of tennis.

Born in Villa Gesell on February 14, 2002 and fell in love with the racket at a very young age. He started playing at the age of 5 and divided his education between the brick dust of his hometown and that of Harrods Gath & Chaves, a club located a few meters from Buenos Aires lawn tennis, where tennis legends have passed.

At the age of 13, for example, he experienced the revolution it generated up close Rafael Nadal, who in 2015 lifted his only Argentine Open trophy at that legendary club. In previous years they played there Guillermo Vilas, eight times champion, Ivan Lendl winner in 1981, David Nalbandian (2008) or, closer in time, a Carlos Alcaraz who will return this year to defend his title.

Darderi, who He has dual nationality because one of his grandparents was Italian And thanks to the benefits that his new country has granted him to access European tournaments, receive aid and travel around Europe with the EU passport, he dreams of reaching the top 100, settling down and achieving part of what those glories of racket they got. He has the conditions, he always has had them, but he has suffered the always difficult adaptation to the circuit.

In 2019 he reached the semi-finals of the Torneo Avvenire in Milan, one of the most prestigious Under 16 tournaments in the world together with the Orange Bowl, and played in the junior teams of Australia and Flushing Meadows. People started talking about him and that powerful drive with which he always tries to dominate from the baseline to take the field and define the points.

But among professionals it is more difficult to bring out that virtue. And the hierarchy of other types of rivals highlights flaws that seemed hidden. So he had to wait until February 2023 to add his first win at the highest level there. And it was precisely in Córdoba: he beat the Frenchman Hugo Gaston before losing in the round of 16 to Sebastián Báez, champion of the tournament. Since then he has played only one match in Acapulco until reaching the current edition in Córdoba, where He is showing his best version.

“I’ve never been so solid” said in the mixed zone after overwhelming the Austrian in 64 minutes of play Sebastiano Ofner38th in the world rankings. “I played a great match. I made very few mistakes and, above all, “I managed to stay mentally focused, which is what I was looking for with my team”, He added.

As such Roger Federer, who went from the strong character he displayed as a junior to becoming the great knight of law courtsDarderi had to work a lot on this issue. I lost my mind easily.

“I remember at the beginning he was very angry and competitive on the pitch. I’m still a bit like that; I have a very strong character, but little by little I am calming down. When I was 7 I played against fifty-year-olds and I got angry because I didn’t beat them. “For me it was all about competing,” she recalled in an interview with TyC Sports.

Now the pieces are starting to fall into place, each in its place and Luli Darderi, As his friends on the circuit nickname him, he found the results he had been looking for for a long time and that he knew he could achieve. It’s just that he knows he’s good.

“Beating someone ranked 30th in the world is very difficult for me because I’m still young and I’m 130th, but I think I have the level. At some point the ranking I deserve will arrive, it’s a matter of continuing to work” he added after overtaking Austrian Sebastian Ofner, 38th in the world ranking, at the Mario Alberto Kempes Sports Center.

The live ranking places him at position 121, which would become his best historical position next Monday. A new victory would leave him one step away from the top 100. And it would give Darderi that mental push to continue growing.

A day spent on the water

The dream of Luciano Darderi, who reached the quarterfinals after passing the quallycould intersect with that of Roman Burruchaga at the ATP 250 in Cordoba.

Burru, nicknamed by his father, world champion in Mexico ’86, could be his next rival. He was struggling in the third set against the German Yannick Hanfmann and were winning 2-1 when rain forced the match to be abandoned. They will complete the match this Friday at 12 on center court.

Subsequently, in another of the pending round of 16, the reigning champion Sebastiano Baez will face the Bolivian Hugo Dellien, while at 1pm on field 1 the Argentine duel is scheduled between Facundo Diaz Acosta AND Thiago Tirante.