Jannik Sinner has secured his spot in the Italian Open final, overcoming Daniil Medvedev in a match that spanned two days and was interrupted by rain and the Italian's own physical struggles. The world number one will face Casper Ruud on Sunday, May 17th.
Sinner prevailed with a scoreline of 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 after play resumed on Saturday, May 16th. The encounter, which began on Friday, was halted with Sinner leading 4-2 in the third set due to inclement weather. Upon returning to the court, Sinner closed out the match in approximately 15 minutes, fending off two match points saved by Medvedev before converting his own third opportunity.
During the match, Sinner required treatment on his right thigh for what appeared to be cramping, and was also observed vomiting on the court. These physical issues arose after a first set where he displayed strong form, followed by a second set that saw Medvedev fight back. Sinner himself admitted to struggling with sleep following the suspension, noting the challenging conditions.
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The semi-final drama saw Medvedev save a break point when serving down 6-2, 5-7, 4-2. The match featured rallies of longer duration, with 39 points exceeding five shots compared to 46 between zero and four shots played between the two men.
Casper Ruud reached the final by defeating Italian Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1. Ruud's match also experienced a significant rain delay. The upcoming final pits Sinner against Ruud, a matchup Sinner has dominated historically, holding a 4-0 record against him, including a straight-sets victory in last year's Rome quarterfinals. The Italian Open represents a title Sinner has yet to claim in his career.
The tournament has been marked by these postponements, affecting both the men's and women's events. Sinner's progression to the final extends his current winning streak to 28 matches.
