If losing to Sinner in two sets at the Madrid Masters was understandable, then Germany’s top star falling to Italy’s Darderi—a player ranked lower and with a less impressive record—in Rome was a baffling result.
After his disappointment in Madrid, expectations were high for Alexander Zverev’s return to action in Rome. As a top-three player beaten by a top-three rival, many believed he would bounce back and prove that the Madrid loss was due to poor form, not a sign of decline. The ugly scoreline, they thought, would not be repeated.
When Zverev met Darderi in the round of 16, virtually everyone predicted he would win with ease.
But the shock came not only suddenly but also with stunning force. Zverev ended up losing in a bagel set, causing a major upset that stunned the tennis world.
Zverev started the first set strongly, quickly taking it 6-1. If someone had suggested an upset at that point, they would have been ridiculed by fans in the live chat.
Particularly when the German led 5-3 in the second set, most were convinced the match was over and Darderi was heading for a straight-sets defeat.
However, Darderi refused to surrender. In the tenth game, he found incredible energy, breaking Zverev’s serve when the German was serving for the match. At first, it looked like a momentary lapse, but that moment became the turning point of the entire contest.
After saving the match, Darderi’s confidence soared. He forced a tiebreak in the second set and won it 12-10, leveling the match.
In the deciding set, Zverev was expected to fight back and prove himself. Instead, he collapsed, losing 6-0 as Darderi sealed the victory in stunning fashion. It was another huge upset in the men’s draw, following Djokovic’s early exit.
After the match, Zverev faced heavy criticism. Many pointed out that taking just three games from Sinner in Madrid could no longer be excused as “poor form.”
But Zverev had something to say.
“I think I should have won in two sets, but then it just went that way. In the third set, he stepped up and played great tennis,” Zverev said, admitting his frustration. He also noted that fatigue played a part in his loss: “I was really tired.”
Whether fatigue really held him back in key moments is unclear, but Zverev certainly had chances to close out the match in two sets. He blew four match points—three of them after Darderi offered opportunities.
Perhaps that mental blow shattered his confidence, leading to the 0-6 bagel in the decider.
Surprisingly, Zverev also criticized the court conditions, saying the wind was a factor and, “To be honest, I think this is the worst court I’ve ever played on. In junior tournaments, professional matches, Challengers, even in practice, I’ve never played on such a poor surface.”
While Zverev exited, his rival Jannik Sinner continued to shine in Rome.
After ending Roger Federer’s 29-match Masters winning streak, the Italian equaled Novak Djokovic’s record of 31 consecutive Masters wins by defeating compatriot Pellegrino with an impressive performance.
Knowing Sinner gave up just five games in the entire match, many believe it’s only a matter of time before the Serbian star’s record is overtaken, and a new incredible streak will be born.
Reaching the quarterfinals in Rome, Sinner is now just three wins away from joining the elite Golden Masters club. After his dominant 6-2, 6-3 win over Pellegrino, it seems difficult for anyone to stop the Italian from approaching this legendary milestone.