Clay-court spectacle, heavy conditions and another packed, energetic crowd set the tone for quarter-final day at the Sardegna Open. All four matches went the distance, each decided in a third set, shaping two semi-final matchups that will be contested for the first time. The tournament loses its home favourite Matteo Berrettini, but Italian fans still have plenty to hold on to, with yet another all-Italian clash set to headline the weekend. As the Sardegna Open moves into its final two days, the overall success of the event continues to build - interest has been strong enough that ticket sales for next year's edition are set to open as early as Sunday.
Arnaldi outlasts Borges in momentum-swing battle
Matteo Arnaldi came through one of the most fragmented matches of the week, defeating Nuno Borges in a contest that seemed to restart multiple times from both a tactical and emotional standpoint.
The match offered further confirmation of Arnaldi's competitive mindset, but above all of his determination to rebuild his ranking after a difficult start to the 2026 season. The Italian had come into Cagliari with just three wins and eleven losses, a run largely impacted by the foot injury that had kept him from finding continuity.
Neither player was able to take control for sustained periods, a pattern already clear in the opening set. Arnaldi managed to win it despite starting all five of his service games from 0-30, constantly playing from behind but handling the key moments better.
An early break at the start of the second set appeared to put the Italian in position to close the match quickly. Instead, at 4-3, the momentum shifted abruptly. Arnaldi produced a poor service game, dropping it to love, and Borges capitalized immediately, taking advantage of the Italian's emotional dip to win the tiebreak and then move a break ahead in the decider.
At that stage, the sixth seed looked in full control, seemingly ready to take advantage of another sudden collapse - similar to what had already happened in his previous match against Garin. But the match turned once again. At 5-4, pushed by the Centre Court crowd, Arnaldi found an unexpected break back, swinging the momentum entirely. Riding that wave, he played a far more composed final tiebreak, closing it out without further complications.
Speaking after the match, Arnaldi underlined how significant this week has been beyond the result itself. "I'm focusing on myself this week. No matter who I play, I just want to be on court and build rhythm. I don't feel any pain in my foot anymore. Playing in your home country always gives you something extra."
Burruchaga edges Giron in high-level clay battle
Roman Andres Burruchaga came through another tightly contested match, defeating Marcos Giron in a battle defined by balance, long rallies and a late dramatic twist.
For the second time on the day, a match turned at 5-4 with a player serving to close. After what had happened earlier with Borges, this time it was Giron who failed to convert, opening the door for Burruchaga to break back and completely shift the momentum. From there, the Argentine dominated the decisive tiebreak 7-1.
The match was extremely even throughout. Both players landed just over 60% of first serves, while Giron edged the ace count 4 to 3, but neither was able to create a significant advantage behind serve. The encounter was built around extended baseline exchanges with a consistently high tempo and several standout rallies, even within an already intense day of clay-court tennis. After 2 hours and 24 minutes, the difference came down to small margins, with Burruchaga proving slightly more solid in the key moments.
Cadenasso continues breakthrough with De Jong upset
Gianluca Cadenasso produced yet another statement win at the Sardegna Open, defeating Jesper de Jong in a match that once again hinged on a dramatic late swing in momentum.
For the third time in the same day across different matches, a player served for the match at 5-4 and failed to close. Unlike the previous encounters, however, the Italian wildcard managed to recover from that setback and still go on to win the third set.
The 21-year-old, currently ranked No. 232 in the world, continues what is rapidly becoming a breakthrough week. Following his upset over Bellucci in the previous round, Cadenasso backed it up against a more experienced De Jong, who was unable to impose his greater tour experience in the key moments. Statistically the match was extremely balanced, with the only clear separation coming in aces where Cadenasso led 4-1. A deserved win for the Italian, who continues to feed off confidence and momentum. Immediately after the match, he learned he had been awarded a wildcard for the upcoming Rome Masters, adding another layer of significance to an already memorable week.
Hurkacz rallies past Berrettini in late-night quarter-final
Hubert Hurkacz came from a set down to defeat Matteo Berrettini in the final quarter-final of the day, delivering a result that left the Centre Court crowd in Cagliari disappointed.
In a matchup built around serve and forehand patterns, it was the Pole who ultimately found a way to turn the match around. Berrettini had started strongly, replicating the level shown in his win over Navone and taking the opening set in relatively controlled fashion. However, something shifted in the second set - his level dropped, allowing Hurkacz to step in more consistently and bring the match back on level terms.
The deciding set developed into a highly competitive battle. Berrettini, visibly fatigued, stayed in the match thanks in part to the energy from the home crowd, while Hurkacz showed composure under pressure, protecting an early break and refusing to let the momentum swing back. In the end, it was that stability that made the difference, with Hurkacz closing out despite the increasingly supportive atmosphere for the Italian.
Arnaldi vs Cadenasso: all-Italian semi with contrasting trajectories
Matteo Arnaldi and Gianluca Cadenasso meet in an all-Italian semi-final, a matchup that feels unexpected more for the stage of the draw than for the presence of Arnaldi himself. Arnaldi had been a realistic candidate to reach this point, while Cadenasso's run has been one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, turning a wildcard appearance into a genuine deep run.
Arnaldi starts as the favourite in terms of status and experience, but his level behind serve remains a key question. Against Borges, he was never fully able to impose control through his service games, leaving him repeatedly exposed in extended baseline exchanges. Against a younger opponent playing with confidence and nothing to lose, that becomes even more important. On the other side, Cadenasso's growing confidence and momentum will need to be contained - the priority for Arnaldi will be to limit his opponent's early enthusiasm and prevent him from dictating phases through aggressive, free-flowing tennis.
M. Arnaldi vs. G. Cadenasso (WC) match preview
Hurkacz vs Burruchaga: power meets clay-court resilience
Hubert Hurkacz arrives in the semi-finals as the leading name for the title after his comeback win over Berrettini, but his path to the final is far from straightforward against Roman Andres Burruchaga.
The Argentine has shown his competitive edge throughout the week, most recently in the win over Giron, where he handled key moments with composure in a match defined by balance and long rallies. There are no previous meetings between the two, adding uncertainty to a matchup that on paper leans towards Hurkacz in terms of ranking, experience and overall weapons. The Pole's serve remains the central factor - he has averaged over 12 aces per match in the past 52 weeks, a clear contrast with Burruchaga's baseline-oriented game.
At the same time, Hurkacz is coming off a difficult period in terms of results, and the physical effort required against Berrettini could play a role. On clay, Burruchaga's consistency, extended rally tolerance and strong Challenger record on this surface suggest he has the tools to make things uncomfortable. Experience and firepower point towards Hurkacz, but if the match shifts into longer exchanges, Burruchaga could keep it closer than expected.