Soccer <\/p>\n
The Italian Open is known for its passionate crowds and late-night matches, but this year\u2019s tournament took the drama to a new level. A quarterfinal match between Spain\u2019s Rafael Jodar and Italy\u2019s Luciano Darderi was abruptly halted not by rain, but by a thick cloud of smoke.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Jodar was leading the first set 6-5 when smoke drifted onto \u2060the center court from Rome\u2019s Stadio Olimpico, where Inter Milan beat \u200bLazio 2-0 \u200cin the Coppa Italia final, impacting the tournament\u2019s \u200celectronic line-calling system.<\/p>\n
The tennis community, including reporters and legendary coaches, quickly took to social media to express their disbelief at the odd, \u201conly-in-Italy\u201d situation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tennis writer and analyst Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) perfectly captured the humor of it:<\/p>\n \u201cPlay 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\u2019s now impossible for Jodar and Darderi to play. God I love Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s now impossible for Jodar and Darderi to play<\/p>\n God I love Italy pic.twitter.com\/77bNXt6qCF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Renowned coach and commentator Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) pointed out that this wasn\u2019t even the first bizarre interruption of the week:<\/p>\n \u201cBeen some crazy stuff happening in Rome, lights went out in a 3rd set match early in tournament now we\u2019re on smoke delay from fireworks at the soccer stadium right behind the tennis grounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Been some crazy stuff happening in Rome, lights \ud83d\udca1 went out in a 3rd set match early in tournament \ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f now we\u2019re on smoke \ud83d\udca8 delay from fireworks \ud83e\udde8 at the soccer \u26bd\ufe0f stadium \ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f right behind the tennis \ud83c\udfbe grounds<\/p>\n \u2014 Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Journalist Jos\u00e9 Morgado (@josemorgado) summed up the collective bewilderment of fans watching the broadcast, quoting Fachan\u2019s explanation and adding:<\/p>\n \u201cInsane scenes\u2026 This really happened. Tennis keeps surprising.\u201d<\/p>\n This really happened.<\/p>\n Tennis keeps surprising. pic.twitter.com\/vqqlYEfh6e<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jos\u00e9 Morgado (@josemorgado) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Spanish tennis commentator Germ\u00e1n R. Abril (@gerebit0) noted that the surreal interruption felt entirely on-brand for the Italian tournament:<\/p>\n \u201cSuspending a tennis match due to smoke invasion from fireworks at midnight is pure Rome. Pure chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n Suspender un partido de tenis por invasi\u00f3n de humo a causa de unos fuegos artificiales a las doce de la noche es puro Roma. Puro caos.<\/p>\n \u2014 Germ\u00e1n R. Abril (@gerebit0) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\n
\n
\n