Sinner beats Medvedev to reach Italian Open final after rain delay

Jannik Sinner reached the Italian Open final on Saturday, May 16, after beating Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a semifinal that was suspended overnight by rain in Rome. The world No. 1 returned to Campo Centrale with a 4-2 lead in the deciding set and closed out the match after play resumed in the afternoon. (olympics.com) ATP Tour coverage said Friday’s semifinal had been halted at 9:45 p.m. local time because of rain, with Medvedev serving at ad-in. The result put Sinner into Sunday’s championship match at Foro Italico against Casper Ruud. ATP Tour’s order of play lists the men’s singles final for not before 5 p.m. in Rome on May 17. (atptour.com) Ruud had already secured his place in the final with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Luciano Darderi in the other semifinal. ### Why did the semifinal stretch into a second day? Friday’s match was suspended because of rain after two hours and 23 minutes of play, according to ATP Tour coverage. Sinner had taken the first set 6-2, Medvedev claimed the second 7-5, and Sinner had moved ahead 4-2 in the third before officials stopped play. (olympics.com) Campo Centrale had already been affected by wet conditions, and ATP Tour said play was set to resume at 3 p.m. in Rome on Saturday. The delay left the second men’s semifinal unfinished while Ruud had already advanced on the other side of the draw. (atptour.com) ### How did Sinner finish the match on Saturday? Saturday’s restart lasted only about 15 minutes, Olympics.com reported. Medvedev saved two match points after play resumed, but Sinner completed the win moments later to book his place in the final. The final score completed a match that had shifted over three sets. (atptour.com) Sinner controlled the opener, Medvedev broke in the 12th game of the second set to force a decider, and the Italian had already built the crucial third-set advantage before the rain stoppage. ### What stood out before the rain stoppage? ATP Tour reported that Sinner appeared to struggle physically during stretches of the second set, bending over between points as he tried to recover. Medvedev used drop shots and extended rallies as the match tightened after Sinner’s fast start. (olympics.com) The third set turned when Sinner broke for 2-1 and protected that edge before the weather intervened. ATP Tour said he had not faced a break point in the third set before the suspension. ### Who does Sinner play next in Rome? Casper Ruud will face Sinner in the final on Sunday, May 17. (olympics.com) ATP Tour’s official schedule lists the match on Campo Centrale not before 5 p.m., after the doubles final. Ruud reached the title match by beating Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1 in the other semifinal. Olympics.com said Sinner is into the Rome final for the second straight year. (atptour.com) ### What is at stake in the final? ATP Tour said Sinner is bidding to complete the Career Golden Masters, a sweep of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, a feat only Novak Djokovic has achieved. (atptour.com) The ATP also said Sinner entered the semifinal on a 32-match Masters 1000 winning streak, and Olympics.com reported a win over Medvedev would extend that run. (atptour.com) Sunday’s final at Foro Italico is the next step. ATP Tour lists Jannik Sinner against Casper Ruud on May 17 in Rome, not before 5 p.m. local time. (atptour.com 1) (atptour.com 2) (olympics.com)