Soccer
The Italian Open is known for its passionate crowds and late-night matches, but this year’s tournament took the drama to a new level. A quarterfinal match between Spain’s Rafael Jodar and Italy’s Luciano Darderi was abruptly halted not by rain, but by a thick cloud of smoke.
The source of the smog was the Coppa Italia soccer final, which was taking place a mere 500 meters away at the Stadio Olimpico. As the final whistle blew, a massive celebratory fireworks display from fans sent so much smoke into the air that it spread to the neighboring tennis courts, reducing visibility and forcing umpires to suspend play.
Soccer Tennis Analysts Call Soccer Fireworks Suspending Rome Match ‘Pure Chaos’
Jodar was leading the first set 6-5 when smoke drifted onto the center court from Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, where Inter Milan beat Lazio 2-0 in the Coppa Italia final, impacting the tournament’s electronic line-calling system.
The tennis community, including reporters and legendary coaches, quickly took to social media to express their disbelief at the odd, “only-in-Italy” situation.
Tennis writer and analyst Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) perfectly captured the humor of it:
“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. God I love Italy.”
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
God I love Italy pic.twitter.com/77bNXt6qCF
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 13, 2026
Renowned coach and commentator Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) pointed out that this wasn’t even the first bizarre interruption of the week:
“Been some crazy stuff happening in Rome, lights went out in a 3rd set match early in tournament now we’re on smoke delay from fireworks at the soccer stadium right behind the tennis grounds.”
Been some crazy stuff happening in Rome, lights 💡 went out in a 3rd set match early in tournament 🏟️ now we’re on smoke 💨 delay from fireworks 🧨 at the soccer ⚽️ stadium 🏟️ right behind the tennis 🎾 grounds
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) May 13, 2026
Journalist José Morgado (@josemorgado) summed up the collective bewilderment of fans watching the broadcast, quoting Fachan’s explanation and adding:
“Insane scenes… This really happened. Tennis keeps surprising.”
This really happened.
Tennis keeps surprising. pic.twitter.com/vqqlYEfh6e
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 13, 2026
Spanish tennis commentator Germán R. Abril (@gerebit0) noted that the surreal interruption felt entirely on-brand for the Italian tournament:
“Suspending a tennis match due to smoke invasion from fireworks at midnight is pure Rome. Pure chaos.”
Suspender un partido de tenis por invasión de humo a causa de unos fuegos artificiales a las doce de la noche es puro Roma. Puro caos.
— Germán R. Abril (@gerebit0) May 13, 2026
While rain delays and light failures are standard hazards on the ATP and WTA tours, a suspension due to a neighboring soccer stadium’s pyrotechnics is a first.
The play was halted for almost 20 minutes as officials waited for conditions to improve and for the system to reset. Darderi ended up clawing past Jodar 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-0 in front of his home crowd. The 24-year-old will face off against Casper Ruud for a spot in the final.
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