The Italian Open descended into chaos on Tuesday night when a thick blanket of fog, caused by fireworks from the nearby Coppa Italia final, forced play to be suspended. The tennis tournament, a crucial warm-up for the French Open, is held at Rome's Stadio Centrale de Tennis, located just 500 metres from the Stadio Olimpico inside the Foro Italico sports complex.
Simultaneous Events Cause Disruption
On Tuesday evening, both venues hosted major events simultaneously. Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar faced Italy's Luciano Darderi in a quarterfinal match on the clay court, while across the complex, Inter Milan triumphed 2-0 over Lazio to win the Coppa Italia final. As Inter's victory was sealed, fireworks were set off, releasing a dense cloud of smoke that drifted into the tennis stadium.
Technology Failure and Visibility Issues
The smoke caused the stadium's electronic line-calling technology to fail, leaving the umpire without this crucial tool. Visibility deteriorated significantly, hampering both players. Darderi complained to the chair umpire about the worsening conditions, prompting a halt to proceedings. During the impromptu break, Darderi was seen enjoying an espresso.
Tennis journalist Bastien Fachan captured the surreal scene on video and shared it on X, stating: 'Play is currently suspended in Rome because the Coppa Italia final was held 500 meters away and they shot off fireworks at the final whistle, liberating so much smoke that it’s now impossible for Jodar and Darderi to play.'
Match Resumes After Delay
After approximately 20 minutes, play resumed, with Darderi taking the first set against Jodar. Jodar, at 18, became the youngest Rome quarterfinalist since compatriot Rafael Nadal in 2005. He is also only the second teenager to reach the quarterfinals in both Madrid and Rome in the same season since Nadal, 21 years ago.
Reflecting on his round of 16 win over Learner Tien, Jodar said: 'I am super happy. I just try to play the matches and be focused on what I have to do. I am super happy with how I handled the important moments in this match. Learner is a tough opponent.'
