A dominant display in the opening two sets
On Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis arena in the world, Alexander Zverev delivered an impressive performance in his fourth night match of the tournament. The top-seeded German defeated Italian qualifier Luciano Darderi, seeded 21, 6:2, 6:2, 7:6 to advance comfortably into the quarterfinal.
The first two sets were a pure show of force. Zverev controlled play with his serve and powerful baseline game — he did not concede a single break of serve throughout the match. He won 86 percent of points on his first serve and 57 percent on his second, while Darderi managed just one break point across the entire match and failed to convert it. Zverev saved every break point the Italian created, holding serve flawlessly across all three sets.
In the second set, Zverev shifted into a higher gear: a botched drop shot from Darderi gifted the German a second break and a 4:0 lead, effectively settling the set early. Zverev also fired 13 aces and registered 43 winners — Darderi replied with 30 winners but committed 28 unforced errors and seven double faults.
Darderi fights back — but Zverev prevails in the tiebreak
The third set brought greater resistance from Luciano Darderi. The 24-year-old, who plays for Italy and was born in Villa Gesell, Argentina, found a better rhythm through a stronger first serve and well-placed drop shots, pushing Zverev into a tiebreak. But the German kept his composure there too, winning it convincingly 7:3.
Darderi had already turned heads at this tournament, reaching the round of 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time — another step forward in his rise toward the top of the game. At the 2026 ATP Masters in Rome he had beaten Zverev after saving four match points. This time, however, he found no answer to a focused and clinical Zverev.
A historic milestone for Zverev
By reaching the US Open quarterfinal, Zverev wrote a new chapter in his career: he becomes the first player of the 2026 season to reach the quarterfinal at all four Grand Slams. Following his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros 2026 and a run to the Wimbledon final, the Hamburg native continues to assert his exceptional standing in today's game. This is already his fifth US Open quarterfinal, after 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
The numbers told a clear story: Zverev won 58 percent of all points and held every service game. Darderi won just 36 percent of points on his second serve and never converted a single break point opportunity. After a match defined by control and efficiency, Zverev fully deserved his place in the last eight.
