World No. 1 Jannik Sinner continued his sensational 2026 season by defeating Daniil Medvedev in a dramatic rain-affected semi-final to storm into the Italian Open final in Rome.
The Italian tennis star secured a hard-fought 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory after the match was suspended overnight due to heavy rain, keeping alive his bid for a maiden Italian Open title in front of home fans.
Rain Drama Fails To Stop Sinner
The blockbuster semi-final at Foro Italico was interrupted late Friday night with Sinner leading 4-2 in the deciding set after torrential rain forced organisers to suspend play.
When the match resumed on Saturday, Sinner quickly regained control and sealed victory despite a spirited fightback from Medvedev, who became the first player in the tournament to take a set off the Italian star.
Sinner had dominated the opening set 6-2 with aggressive baseline play before Medvedev responded strongly to claim the second set 7-5 and push the contest into a decider.
Physical Struggles Add To Intense Battle
The semi-final was packed with drama as Sinner battled visible physical discomfort during the latter stages of the contest.
The 24-year-old appeared troubled by cramps and fatigue, even requiring a medical timeout during the match. Despite the physical issues, Sinner showed remarkable resilience to close out the victory against the experienced Russian.
Medvedev also voiced frustration during parts of the match, questioning aspects of Sinner’s treatment break as tensions briefly flared on court.
Sinner Sets Up Final Against Casper Ruud
With the win, Sinner advanced to the Italian Open final where he will face Norway’s Casper Ruud, who cruised past Luciano Darderi in the other semi-final.
Sinner currently holds a dominant 4-0 head-to-head record against Ruud and has not dropped a set against the Norwegian so far in their ATP meetings.
The Italian is now aiming to complete a historic run by winning his sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title — a feat never achieved before in men’s tennis.
Historic Run Continues For World No. 1
Sinner’s victory also extended his incredible Masters-level winning streak to 33 matches, underlining his dominance on the ATP Tour this season.
The Italian has already captured titles in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid this year, establishing himself as the clear favourite heading into the French Open later this month.
He is now just one win away from lifting his first Rome Masters trophy and becoming the first Italian man in decades to triumph at the prestigious home tournament.
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