With determination and a winning mentality. Luciano Darderi continues on its path to Italian internationals. The Italian-Argentine defeated the listed Mariano Navone (n.31 ATP) in the second round of the Foro Italico tournament, with a score of 6-3 6-2, taking revenge after what happened in the Cagliari Challenger. For Luciano, therefore, first qualification for the third round in Rome and on his path there will be the winner of the challenge between Alexander Zverev (no. 3 seeding) e the Australian Vukic. This is also the first third round reached in a 1000 category tournament for Darderi.
In the first set Luciano is the first to build three consecutive chances to get the break, but the Italian-Argentine born in 2002 is not precise in finishing the job. Resolute, however, is Navone who knows how to pinch his opponent on the left side, to build the point in an excellent way. Ahead 3-1, the lights go out for the Argentine. The winner of the Cagliari tournament doesn’t find much depth, while Darderi does a lot of harm with his forehand. Sword and foil for Luciano, capable of alternating power blows with soft blows, taking advantage of his rival’s backward position. A perfect reading that leads to 6-3 for the 22-year-old native of Villa Gesell.
In the second set Darderi has the inertia of the exchange on his side. Navone can’t keep up with his opponent’s forehand accelerations and the break becomes a reality in the second game. Luciano risks ruining everything in the seventh game, when he goes down 15-40 due to some somewhat superficial errors, but by holding on very well to the serve he resolves it. In the eighth a soliloquy from the Italian-Argentine made it 6-2.
Luciano concludes with 17 winners and 22 free errors compared to Navone’s 9 winners and 23 unforced errors. To these must be added 2 aces, 65% of the points won with the first serve and 58% with the second serve. This last figure, considering the Argentine’s 38%, weighs on the economy of the match.
