Jannik Sinner moved just one win away from completing the career Golden Masters after he beat Daniil Medvedev to reach his first Italian Open final.
The match had been suspended on Friday because of rain, with Sinner leading 4-2 in the deciding set, and, following its resumption on Saturday, the Italian took just 15 minutes to seal his progress with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory.
The world number one failed to take two match points on Medvedev’s serve at 5-3 in the third set, but served out the next game to continue his bid to join Novak Djokovic as only the second man to win all nine Masters 1000 titles – the sport’s highest level below the Grand Slams.
The success also extended his record of ATP Masters 1000 wins to 33.
Sinner will face Casper Ruud, who overcame Italy’s world number 20 Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1, in the final.
After his win on Friday, Norway’s Ruud said: “It’s my 10th semi-final, I think, in a Masters 1000, and it was his first, so you try to use that experience to your advantage, and I think I did that well.
“He was maybe a little bit stressed, a little bit nervous of the occasion, but I tried to stay focused and kind of in my own tunnel vision.”
On Friday, Sinner had to overcome his physical struggles against Medvedev before the rain stopped their compelling match.
He regularly leaned on his racquet to support himself and had treatment on his thigh during a medical timeout in the third set.
Sinner had looked set to steamroller Medvedev after imperiously racing into a 4-0 lead on the way to taking the first set.
However, Medvedev kept his cool as he took advantage of a drop in the Italian’s energy and quality to take a 3-0 lead in the second set.
Sinner held a lengthy fourth game to prevent himself going 4-0 down and, despite showing visible signs he was struggling physically, broke back against the Russian.
Medvedev kept up the pressure on his rival, and it eventually paid off when he took a break point with Sinner serving to stay in the second set.
It was the first set the world number one had dropped in this year’s tournament.
Sinner had three break points in the third game of the decider and gave out a roar when he took the second after
Medvedev sent a backhand long.
It proved crucial as rain stopped play with Sinner leading 4-2 before he returned fresher on Saturday to wrap up the win.
