
Sinner overcomes Medvedev to reach Italian Open showpiece
Jannik Sinner fought past Daniil Medvedev, overcoming a rain suspension and medical issues, to book his place in the Italian Open final.
Play was suspended in the third set on Friday after heavy rain, but Sinner did not let that faze him when the players returned to the court as he triumphed 6-2 5-7 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes.
Sinner came racing out of the blocks, breaking Medvedev's serve in the first game on his way to reeling off the first four.
Though the Russian got himself on the scoreboard, his sluggish start proved costly as Sinner converted his second set point.
However, momentum soon shifted as Sinner began to tire; he struggled to catch his breath after points and had the medic on the court to receive treatment.
And Medvedev hit his stride in that time, winning the first three games before Sinner managed to claw back level with a break of his own. The Russian was able to force a decider, though, and eventually converted his third set point.
Sinner steadied himself in the third set, getting another early break for good measure, and was 4-2 up on a break point at Ad-40 when the rain interrupted play.
Play could not be resumed until Saturday – though more rain delays pushed back the resumption further – and though Sinner failed to convert the set point, he eventually got over the line on his third match point attempt to set up a final against Casper Ruud.
Sinner Prevails! @janniksin books his spot in the 2026 Rome final after battling past Medvedev in 3 sets#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/BMIXGXrtiN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 16, 2026
Data Debrief: Sinner closes in on Career Golden Masters
Sinner was a beaten finalist, losing to Carlos Alcaraz last year, but he is just one win away from becoming only the second man, alongside Novak Djokovic, to capture all nine Masters 1000 titles.
The first to achieve the feat in the Open Era, Sinner has become the first Italian to reach back-to-back finals at the Italian Open since Nicola Pietrangeli (1957-58).
Since the format's introduction in 1990, he (2026) is now just the second player to reach the final at each of the first five ATP Masters 1000 events in a season, along with Rafael Nadal (2011).











