Luciano Darderi advanced to the quarterfinals of the Nordea Open in emphatic fashion, delivering a dominant performance on Bastad’s Centre Court. Playing explosive, high-energy tennis, he defeated Elias Ymer in straight sets (6-2, 6-2), showing that he’s come to Sweden with big ambitions following his title at the Moroccan Open.

Ranked No. 55 in the world, Darderi controlled the match from start to finish. He broke Ymer’s serve early in the first set to go up 2-1, capitalizing on an unforced error and overwhelming the Swede with deep, powerful forehands. The Italian ended the match with 19 winners (compared to Ymer’s 18). His aggressive game—both on serve and during rallies—kept the pressure on his opponent and gave him the edge throughout.

With a second consecutive break, Darderi—who climbed as high as No. 32 in the world in August 2024—took full control and became the clear favorite to win the first set. He was clinical, winning 74% of points on his first serve (20/27) and 70% on his second (16/23). He sealed the set in just 31 minutes with another dominant service game and a love break, finishing it 6-2.

Ymer, who entered the main draw as a wild card, struggled to cope with Darderi’s pace and precision. He lost his serve at the start of the second set, and the Italian quickly raced to a 4-0 lead after three consecutive games. Darderi’s fire and focus were on full display—saving a crucial break point at 1-0 (100% on break points saved, 3/3), then following up with a delicate drop shot to hold for 2-0.

Double faults piled up for Ymer, a sign of his growing frustration and the limited options Darderi’s relentless pressure allowed him. A perfectly executed down-the-line backhand gave Darderi another break and a 3-0 lead. He then added to his tally with aces (8 total to Ymer’s 2), pushing himself within touching distance of victory.

Although Ymer briefly stayed in the match by getting on the board at 4-1, Darderi remained composed. Serving at 5-2, he wrapped up the match with a love game, securing a 6-2 second set and a thunderous passage into the final eight of the Nordea Open.

This will be the 23-year-old Italian’s ninth career ATP Tour quarterfinal—and his fourth in 2025, all of which have come on clay. There, he will face Sebastian Baez in a tough all-Argentine showdown with a spot in the ATP 250 Nordea Open semifinals on the line.

Written by Achilleas Tsakalidis