Italian 21-year-old qualifier Luciano Darderi beat Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis 6-1 6-4 to clinch the first ATP title of his career at the Cordoba Open on Sunday.
Darderi broke twice in the second and fourth games to win the first set 6-1. The Italian 21-year-old Italian player built up a 6-1 2-0 lead in just 34 minutes, as Bagnis won just 12 of the first 24 points of the match.
Bagnis broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2 and eventually led 4-3 with a hold of serve in the seventh game. Darderi earned the decisive break in a six-deuce ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and served out the win on his first match point.
Darderi had won just one ATP Tour-level match before this week. He is projected to move from world number 136 to number 75 in the ATP Ranking.
“I feel really good. I can’t believe I have my first ATP title. Last week I lost in the second round of a Challenger in Punta del Este. To come through from qualifying to win the title with my family here and to make a big move in the rankings, my father and my girlfriend, it’s so special”, said Darderi.
