Luciano stops in the second set of his debut in the Australian Open. The medical time-out is not enough, the number 44 in the world bowed by physical problems
Bitter debut for Luciano Darderi at the 2025 Australian Open. The Italian retires at the end of the second set against the Spaniard Pedro Martinez, who takes advantage of the physical problems in the world number 44’s right shoulder (very long medical time-out in the second set, before of withdrawal). Martinez plays a careful and very aggressive game in response, already addressed in the first 20 minutes of the game. It ends 6-3 4-1 (retirement) for Martinez, who could meet Zverev (seeded number 2) in the second round.
the match
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Darderi, in the first Slam of the season, starts badly. Luciano loses serve twice and the first set seems unrecoverable. The Italian recovers a break deficit in the fourth game, but the gap remains wide and Martinez maintains the advantage without granting more break points until the ninth game, when the Spaniard breaks Darderi again and closes 6-3 in 39 minutes. The match practically ends here, because Pedro is physically better and quickly goes up 3-0. Darderi, at 2-0, makes a gesture of annoyance and throws his racket due to his precarious physical condition. The medical time-out gives a slight boost to Darderi, who wins a game upon returning to the field, but it’s not enough. At 4-1 for the Spaniard, the Italian withdraws from the tournament, in a match already compromised.