Rafael Jódar is currently facing Luciano Darderi in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters 1000.
Darderi’s Early Advantage
Darderi secured an early lead in the match. He capitalised on some errors from Jódar. Darderi reached 40-0 at one point, before a double fault.
Jódar struggled with the height of Darderi’s balls. Darderi’s good acceleration allowed him to take command, with Jódar faltering.
Jódar Breaks Back
Jódar began to put pressure on Darderi’s serve. This pressure started to pay off as Jódar secured a break. A well-maintained rally saw Rafa covering the court effectively.
Jódar closed a game with a smash. Darderi attempted a defence, but couldn’t make it.
Neck and Neck
Jódar moved Darderi around, taking a lead for the first time. A good serve from Jódar forced Darderi to return a winner with a backhand. Jódar distributed play well from the baseline.
Darderi won a point at the net, going 30-15 up. He followed up with a good backhand volley, bringing the score to 30-30.
Currently, the score stands at 4-4. Darderi secured a game after a ball from Rafa touched the net and fell on his side.
Darderi is proving a tough competitor.