Luciano Darderi shocks Karen Khachanov to storm into maiden Grand Slam second week
Italian Luciano Darderi achieved a career-defining milestone on Friday night, upsetting 15th seed Karen Khachanov 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Australian Open round of 16 for the first time.
Luciano Darderi, Australian Open 2026 | © Photosport / PsNewz
The 23-year-old Luciano Darderi, currently ranked No 25, proved his mettle on the Melbourne hard courts by taking down a former semifinalist in a high-intensity battle. Known primarily for his prowess on clay, the world No 25 demonstrated significant evolution in his game to dismantle the 29-year-old world No 18 Karen Khachanov (7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4).
After a gritty opening set tiebreak that went the way of the Italian, the No 15 seed Karen Khachanov briefly stabilized to take the second. However, Darderi’s relentless aggression and baseline depth allowed him to regain control, breaking the Russian in the pivotal stages of the third and fourth sets to secure one of the biggest wins of his life.
“Khachanov has a lot of experience on these type of surface”, Darderi said. “A lot of times playing third round. For me is the first time. I think I managed really good the nervous on the important moments. That’s was the key today,” he explained. While he admitted to a temporary lapse in concentration – noting, “I lost my mind in the second set” – he was pleased with his immediate response: “I come back really strong in the beginning of the third set. That was the key when I do the break at 3-2 in the third set.”
A historic breakthrough for the rising Italian star
The victory marks the first time in Luciano Darderi’s career that he has reached the second week of a Grand Slam. It is a massive milestone for the Argentine-born Italian, who has enjoyed a rapid ascent up the ATP rankings over the past 24 months. He credited a strategic shift in his preparation for the breakthrough: “I think the progress was more on hard courts. When you do the pre-season on hard courts, is different. This one is my second one completely in hard courts.”
Darderi had previously dispatched Sebastian Baez and Cristian Garin. By eliminating a seasoned veteran like Khachanov, who had defeated Nishesh Basavareddy and Alex Michelsen to reach this stage, Darderi has officially announced himself as a threat on all surfaces, not just the red dirt where he earned his reputation.
Having dropped only two sets across his first three matches in Melbourne, the No 22 seed enters the second week with the confidence of a player who has finally matched his immense potential with a deep run at a major. Now set to face fellow Italian Jannik Sinner, Darderi is embracing the challenge: “Is going to feel really, really good.”
