Alexander Zverev suffered a shocking round-of-16 defeat at the Italian Open after being beaten by Luciano Darderi in a dramatic three-set match, 6-1, 6-7 (10-12), 0-6.
Zverev started strongly, taking the opening set comfortably, but the momentum shifted in the second set as Darderi fought back in a tense tiebreak.
The match then took a surprising turn in the deciding set, where Zverev was completely outplayed, failing to win a single game as Darderi sealed one of the biggest wins of his career.
The defeat is a major setback for Zverev, who had been viewed as one of the clear favourites to reach the final, especially with Jannik Sinner positioned on the opposite side of the draw.
Following the match, Zverev criticized the playing conditions, expressing frustration with the court quality.
“It was difficult to play. I mean, to be honest, the court, I think this is the worst court I’ve ever played on. Juniors, professional, futures, practice — I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad,” he said.
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The German now turns his attention to preparations for Roland Garros, where he will look to bounce back from the disappointing early exit and rebuild momentum heading into the season’s second Grand Slam.
Zverev was also asked about his chances of challenging the current dominant forces on tour, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
“I do have to believe that I’m capable of beating him,” Zverev said. “I do have to believe it, otherwise we can just give him the trophy without playing the tournament.”
Zverev’s last title came at the 2025 BMW Open in Munich last April, it was his 24th tour-level career title.
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