Luciano Darderi storms into the Round of 16 at the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal after a resilient comeback against China’s Juncheng Shang.
After dropping the first set 4-6, Darderi rallied to claim the next two sets 6-1, 6-4, securing a hard-fought victory that now sets him up for a winnable clash against either Germany’s Daniel Hanfmann or Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Darderi’s battle began on shaky ground as he lost his serve in the fifth game of the opening set, allowing Shang to maintain that crucial break and take the lead. However, the Italian-Argentine shifted gears dramatically in the second set, dominating with a commanding 6-1 to level the match. In the decisive third set, Darderi surged ahead with a two-break lead at 3-0, momentarily slipping by conceding one break back. Despite missing two match points on return in the ninth game, he sealed the victory emphatically on his own serve in the tenth game, delivering an ace on the match point to close out the encounter.
This performance marks a significant step forward for Darderi, who had already advanced from the opening round when opponent Gabriel Diallo retired mid-match. His next opponent will emerge from the battle between Hanfmann and Borges, presenting a realistic opportunity to progress deeper into the tournament.
Elsewhere in Montreal, French rising star Arthur Fils powered through with a straight-sets win over Mariano Navone, 6-3, 6-2, positioning himself to face the winner of the clash between Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur.
Italian tennis fans are also gearing up for more action, with Lorenzo Musetti scheduled to face Rafael Jodar after their recent encounter in Washington. Tomorrow, Matteo Arnaldi remains Italy’s final hope, set to take on Tallon Griekspoor.
On the WTA side at the Toronto 1000 event, Iga Swiatek delivered a clinical performance to reach the last 16, overcoming Swiss Victorija Golubic 6-2, 6-1 in just 67 minutes. Despite not being in peak form this season, Swiatek maintained complete control throughout the match. Her next opponent will be the winner of the match between Marta Kostyuk and Madison Keys.
Russian teenager Diana Shnaider also progressed confidently, defeating Anna Kalinskaya with a double 6-3 scoreline.