The Córdoba Open suits Luciano Darderi well: from winning a single match to winning his first ATP

He Cordoba open it fits very well Luciano Darderi. On the dust of that 2023 tournament he had achieved his first – and until last week – only victory in the main draw of a ATP. And in that same scenario, yesterday he won his first title on the most important circuit in professional tennis. In an unprecedented final, only the third between two players from the qually since the creation of the circuit in 1990 -, the Italian-Argentine has won 6-1 and 6-4 against Facundo Bagnis and won the trophy of the first competition of the South American tour of slow courts.

“Winning an ATP title is not something that happens every day. And doing it at 21 is very nice,” Darderi celebrated. “I still have a lot to learn and grow. We work to be a little better every day. I hope this is the first title of many.”

The consecration, in what was his first final at this level, not only allowed him to inaugurate his personal best. It also led him to break an important barrier: because from today he will be the new member of the top 100. He will be placed in 76th place, after having made a jump of 60 positions.

After Bagnis’ backhand return was long and sealed his victory, and after the salute to the net with the man from Rosario (who at 33 was also looking for his first title), Darderi immediately went to look for his father, Gino. And she merged with him in a touching embrace. Thanks to him, a former player and teacher who became her coach, Luciano discovered tennis. And also thanks to your support he has reached where he is today.

“I am very grateful to my father. We have been working hard with him for many years to achieve this goal. There is a lot of commitment and sacrifice behind it. Any tennis player knows this is true. That’s why this victory is really special,” said the new champion.

And he took a few seconds to recognize his rival’s huge tournament: “The final was very difficult, especially because of the nerves. I want to congratulate Facu. To be in an ATP final at 33 is incredible.”

Born in Villa Gesell in 2002, at the age of 14 he made a decision that changed his life and career. Taking advantage of the fact that he had Italian nationality, and also motivated by the support offered by that country’s tennis federation (which he did not have in Argentina), he changed sides and began playing with the green, white and red shirt.

After a good junior career – he became eighth in the world in that category – he began his professional career and last year, after passing the Córdoba qualifiers, he won his first ATP match on his main draw debut against the French Hugh Gaston.

Still focused on Challenger’s Tour -in which he won two titles (Lima and Todi, both in 2023)-, he had to wait twelve months to get his second victory at the highest level. And it was again in the Córdoba tournament, where he started in the preliminary round and advanced with pure power.

He left the Chilean on the street Tomás Barrios Verato the Austrian Sebastiano Ofnerfourth favorite, to the German Yannick Hanfmannseventh, now Sebastiano Baez, second and defending the crown, to reach the final. And he ultimately became the first ATP champion to emerge from qualifying since 2018. A triumph Darderi will never forget.