Casper Ruud, ranked 23rd, will take on 18th-ranked Luciano Darderi in the semifinals of the Italian Open 2026 at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, on May 15. The match is set to begin after 7:00 PM local time. Ruud has had a strong performance throughout the tournament, defeating Zachary Svajda, Jiri Lehecka, and Lorenzo Musetti, before overcoming Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals with a score of 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. In contrast, Darderi, playing in front of a home crowd, has also shown impressive form, taking down Yannick Hanfmann, Tommy Paul, and second seed Alexander Zverev, and most recently defeating Rafael Jodar in the quarterfinals. This match will mark their first encounter on the ATP Tour, with Ruud being the overwhelming favorite to win, especially given his recent form on clay. Predictions suggest Ruud will win in straight sets, with betting tips indicating he will win at least one set 6-4 or better.