
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 12, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a ball to Gael Monfils of France (not pictured) at Aviva Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Aug 12, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a ball to Gael Monfils of France (not pictured) at Aviva Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The American fans have all the reasons to stick to their seats, as Frances Tiafoe has made it to the semi-finals in Houston. Defeating many formidable opponents on his run for the title, the tennis star has made it engaging for the home fans, as they can now vouch for him alongside Ben Shelton.
Looking forward to the upcoming round, Tiafoe is set to be in a showdown against the Italian Luciano Darderi. Both competitors are about to go against each other for the first time. Who has better odds of making it to the finals? Let’s find out!
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Frances Tiafoe vs. Luciano Darderi: Preview
Frances Tiafoe’s run for the title in Houston defies the odds of his previous performances. Right after the US Open last year, Tiafoe’s journey has been consistently filled with ups and downs. However, gathering the stats of all the semi-finals he has played on clay courts, he has a great chance of securing a victory as he hasn’t lost a single one.
Tonight's win meant so much to him. Would love to see him defend his title. 🙏🏼 #FrancesTiafoe
📹: #USClay IG pic.twitter.com/CDrGTtpPok
— Chad (@CCSMOOTH13) April 6, 2024
On the other side of the court, Luciano Darderi has been quite dominant in Houston. Winning important matches against tough opponents like Francisco Cerundolo and Marcos Giron, the tennis star proved there’s no challenge big enough to let him down. This shows that he’s ready to play against top players from all over the world, not just on clay courts in South America. Darderi’s ranking in tennis has been going up really fast. His success in South America and now in Houston shows that his career is really moving forward.
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Tiafoe vs. Darderi: Head-to-Head
Hopping on to the head-to-head analysis between Frances Tiafoe and Luciano Darderi, the numbers remain neutral as they both haven’t played against each other so far. While Darderi has played three matches to find a position in the semi-finals, it still remains to be seen if he will be able to stun the Americans in front of the crowd.
Prediction: Tiafoe to win in straight sets
Looking at Frances Tiafoe’s side of play, the American has only lost one set in this tournament but has won 52% of all the points he’s played. About his overall record for the past 10 years, he has won 59% of his matches, with a perfect 2-0 record on clay in 2024. Specifically on clay courts, like in this tournament, he has won 87 out of 139 matches in recent years. His best performance this year was reaching the semifinals in Delray Beach.
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On the other hand, the Italian tennis star Darderi has lost two sets in this tournament but managed to win 54% of all the points he’s played. His highlight of the year was winning the title in Cordoba, where he defeated Facundo Bagnis in the final with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Considering these statistics, it seems like Darderi might struggle against Tiafoe and could lose in straight sets.
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