First-time Winner Spotlight: Luciano Darderi

Cordoba Open

Luciano Darderi capped a potentially career-changing week with a dominant championship-match display on Sunday at the Cordoba Open.

After downing home favourite Facundo Bagnis to triumph in the final on the Argentine clay, ATPTour.com caught up with the 21-year-old Italian to discuss his achievement, how he likes to spend his time off court, and what entering the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings means for the rest of his 2024 season.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
All this means a lot to me, especially being in Cordoba and in Argentina, where I feel very good. Coming from the qualies and being able to make a big jump, at 21 years old, it's a dream come true, [also] to enter the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. I went from No. 140 to almost No. 70 in the world at once, it gives me a lot of confidence.

This is a milestone moment in your career. How will you celebrate this victory?
I'll be playing another tournament in Buenos Aires [next week], and today I'm going to celebrate [this win by] eating a good asado and having a drink with all my team, who deserve it as much as I do.

Could you take a moment to acknowledge some of the key figures in your life and career who have helped you to reach this milestone?
In my tennis career I have to highlight above all my dad, who has been with me since I was a little boy. We have been working together for the same dream and I have never had any other coach than him. Then there are many people who have joined my team, and who have helped me throughout my career, like my girlfriend Brianna, my physical trainer, my manager, my mum and my whole family, including my [16-year-old] brother Vito, who hopefully in a few years can also be with me on the Tour.

You are the seventh active Italian player on Tour to become an ATP Tour champion. Does having so many good players from Italy motivate you extra to improve your game?
It motivates me a lot, of course, knowing that Italy is one of the best countries in tennis, as well as Argentina, where I was formed. Knowing that I have a good level gives me the confidence to know that I can live up to it.

How would you describe yourself as a player, and how would you describe yourself off the court?
My main characteristic is to be aggressive with my tennis, to have a strong character that means when I transform myself, I start to play better. Off court, I like to have a good time.

What do you consider to be your biggest passion outside of tennis and can you tell us a little bit about that interest?
I like to go to the beach. I was born in Villa Gesell, Argentina, which is a seaside city and whenever I can go to the beach anywhere in the world. It gives me peace of mind, but beyond that, tennis has always been my first passion and I have never had other distractions in my life.

This was only your third event on the ATP Tour. What are you enjoying most about travelling the world as a tennis player so far?
It is a dream for me to travel and now, with this new ranking, I will be able to play the most important tournaments in the world. I can't imagine how it will be, but mentally I want to prepare myself for big things. I am already qualified to some ATP Masters 1000, to the Grand Slams. In fact, it's something that crossed my mind the last few games, that I knew that if I won it would be a big jump for me. When I was playing the last game, I said to myself, ‘Come on, you win one more game and you'll be Top 80 in the world’.