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Smoke From Football Final Halts Italian Open Tennis
15 May
Summary
- Football celebrations caused smoke that halted a tennis match.
- The electronic line-calling system was disrupted by haze.
- The match concluded after a lengthy, three-hour contest.
During the Italian Open quarter-final, play between Italy's Luciano Darderi and Spain's Rafael Jodar was unexpectedly suspended on Wednesday night. Thick smoke originating from football celebrations at the nearby Stadio Olimpico, where Inter Milan fans celebrated a Coppa Italia final win, drifted into Rome's Foro Italico tennis venue.
The unusual atmospheric conditions created poor visibility, making it difficult for players to track the ball. This also disrupted the tournament's electronic line-calling technology, leading to a nearly 20-minute delay as the air cleared and systems were recalibrated.
Adding to the disruption, persistent rain earlier in the day had already delayed the match, which only commenced close to 11 pm local time. The smoke interruption further complicated the schedule, with the match eventually concluding after 2 am.
Despite the extraordinary circumstances, the contest itself was a thrilling affair lasting over three hours. Darderi ultimately triumphed over Jodar with a score of 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-0, advancing to his first Masters 1000 semi-final.
