Darderi completes fantastic comeback to beat Zverev at Rome Masters

13 May 2026 • 12:19 AM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

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Image from: Darderi completes fantastic comeback to beat Zverev at Rome Masters
Italian tennis player Luciano Darderi in action against Germany's Alexander Zverev during their men's singles round of 16 match of the Italian Open tennis tournament. Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

Luciano Darderi completed a fantastic comeback to defeat world number three Alexander Zverev and reach the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters.

The Italian rallied from 3-5 in the second set and saved four match points in the second set tie-break on his way to a 1-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-0 victory on Tuesday.

After two hours and 25 minutes, Darderi was able to celebrate becoming the first player other than Jannik Sinner to beat Zverev at a Masters tournament since Shanghai last October.

He will now face Spain's Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals.

Image from: Darderi completes fantastic comeback to beat Zverev at Rome Masters
German tennis player Alexander Zverev in action against Belgium's Alexander Blockx during their men's singles round of 32 match of the Italian Open tennis tournament. Marcin Cholewinski/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa