Rain-halted Rome semi ends as Sinner tops Medvedev, meets Ruud for Italian Open crown

ROME (AP): Jannik Sinner closed out Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 when their rain-interrupted semi-final picked up again yesterday, booking an Italian Open championship clash with Casper Ruud.

The top-ranked Italian stands one win from joining Novak Djokovic as only the second man to capture all nine Masters 1000 crowns. Djokovic has taken every Masters event at least twice.

Sinner held a 4-2 lead in the decider when play stopped late Friday. He needed just 15 minutes on Saturday to finish, converting his third match point after Medvedev survived two on serve.

"It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge," Sinner said. "Usually, during the night, I don't struggle to sleep, but this time it was not easy."

"You are in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again and you never know what is happening. It is like the start of the match as there are nerves again. I am very happy with how I handled this situation and that I am back in the final."

Earlier Friday on the red clay at the Foro Italico, Ruud dismissed home favourite Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1.

Coco Gauff was set to face Elina Svitolina in the women's final later Saturday. The men's title match is on Sunday.

Sinner is also bidding to become the first Italian man to lift the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will hand over the silverware on Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella expected at the men's final.

After taking the opener comfortably on Friday, Sinner looked spent as Medvedev raised his level, pulling him wide with drop shots and deep balls to the corners. Several rallies left Sinner doubled over, resting on his racket. Midway through the second set, a trainer worked on his right thigh.

He recovered from 3-0 down only to lose serve again in the 12th game and surrender the set. A fortunate bounce helped him break Medvedev early in the third and seize control for good.

Sinner leads Ruud 4-0 in their head-to-head, winning every set in those meetings — including a 6-0, 6-1 hammering in last year's Rome quarter-finals.

"Jannik is chasing history," Ruud said. "I have to be the guy to try to stop him, and it will not be easy playing here in his home country. ... Last year, he really (routed me) here on the same court, so of course I'm looking for revenge. But at the same time I realise that he's an incredible player and a unique talent."

Sinner fell in last year's final to Carlos Alcaraz, who is out with a right wrist injury. Jasmine Paolini in 2025 became the first Italian woman to win the event in four decades.

Sinner's last defeat came on February 19 in the Qatar Open quarter-finals. He has 28 straight wins and a record five Masters titles in a row. Victory on Sunday would also make him only the second man to sweep Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome in one clay season, after Rafael Nadal in 2010.

He has taken 10 of his past 11 meetings with Medvedev.

After Rome, attention turns to the French Open — the lone Grand Slam he has yet to win. Defending champion Alcaraz will miss that tournament as well.