ROME — Jannik Sinner showcased remarkable resilience, pushing through fatigue to overcome Daniil Medvedev with a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 as their rain-interrupted semifinal concluded on Saturday. This victory marks Sinner’s incredible 28-match winning streak and sets the stage for an exciting Italian Open final against Casper Ruud.
The top seed, Sinner, is just one match away from joining the elite ranks of only the second man ever, alongside Novak Djokovic, to claim all nine Masters 1000 titles.
The Italian Open remains the only Masters event that Sinner has yet to conquer, while Djokovic has lifted every title at least twice.
When play resumed on Saturday, Sinner quickly dispatched Medvedev, sealing the match on his third match point after the Russian successfully defended against two earlier attempts.
Earlier on Friday, Casper Ruud remained sharp during a nearly two-hour rain delay, dominating local favorite Luciano Darderi with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory on the red clay of the Foro Italico.
Coco Gauff is set to face Elina Svitolina in the women’s final later today.
The much-anticipated men’s final is set for Sunday.
Sinner is also on the quest to become the first Italian man to lift the Rome trophy in 50 years, following the legendary Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will present the trophy to this year’s champion, with the attendance of Italian President Sergio Mattarella adding to the occasion.
Exhaustion Sets In
After an easy first set, Sinner’s fatigue became apparent as Medvedev upped his game, sending Sinner scampering across the court with a mix of clever drop shots and precise groundstrokes.
A moment of vulnerability saw Sinner double over, leaning on his racket as fatigue took its toll.
Despite trailing 3-0 in the second set, Sinner battled back but was ultimately broken again, gifting Medvedev the set.
Fortunately for Sinner, a fortunate bounce enabled him to break Medvedev’s serve early in the third, setting up his path to victory.
He also received treatment on his right thigh midway through the second set, highlighting the physical demands of the match.
Sinner’s Dominance Over Ruud
Sinner boasts an impressive 4-0 record against Ruud, having never dropped a set in their encounters, including a stunning 6-0, 6-1 victory in last year’s quarterfinals in Rome.
“Jannik is chasing history,” Ruud acknowledged. “I aim to be the one to halt his momentum, which won’t be easy in his home country… Last year’s defeat really stings, so I’m eager for a rematch. But I respect his talent and skill.”
Last year, Sinner fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the Rome final, who is currently sidelined due to a wrist injury, while Jasmine Paolini made history in 2025 as the first Italian woman to claim the title in 40 years.
Sinner has not faced defeat since his loss to Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on February 19 and has established a record with five consecutive Masters titles. He aspires to be the second man, after Rafael Nadal in 2010, to win all three clay Masters 1000 tournaments in a single season, having already triumphed in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
Sinner has now emerged victorious in 10 of his last 11 matches against Medvedev.
Up next for Sinner will be the French Open, the only Grand Slam title that still eludes him.
