Jannik Sinner wins in 19 minutes to deny Daniil Medvedev and reach Italian Open final | Tennis | Sport

Jannik Sinner only needed 19 minutes to complete his victory over Daniil Medvedev on Saturday and reach the final of the Italian Open. The match took place across two days after it was suspended on Friday night due to torrential rain in Rome. Sinner was struggling physically and appeared to vomit on court at one point before play was stopped as a result of the inclement weather.

It ended on Friday with the Italian leading 4-2 in the final set and he returned on Saturday to wrap up a 6-2 5-7 6-4 in just under 20 minutes. The total match time was two hours and 37 minutes, with the vast majority of the contest being played out on Friday night. The result means Sinner will go up against Casper Ruud in the showpiece match on Sunday.

Sinner and Medvedev were both visibly concerned by the weather before the suspension of play on Friday night, urging the umpire to take control of the situation.

Fears of slipping on the surface were eventually heard as the umpire came down from the chair to put a stop to proceedings.

They were initially scheduled to resume their last-four clash at 3pm local time (2pm BST) on Saturday but they were forced to wait for the doubles semi-finals to be completed first.

Play eventually continued an hour later than billed, with Medvedev drawing first blood to move within one game of Sinner in the third set.

Sinner responded by holding to love before his Russian rival saved two match points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the home favourite from serving out the match in the next game.

Speaking afterwards, Sinner said: “Yesterday, tough match, first set played really well then he raised his level. I didn’t find the right way to play against him. I tried to stay there mentally in the very long exchanges.

“The court was very heavy. Playing night or day, it’s a huge difference. But I’m happy I ended the match now. Now I try to recover as much as I can.

“Finals are always different, you have a little bit more energy by itself. There is a lot of things going on. I try to do my best. It would mean a lot to me [to win it]. In any case, finding myself again in a final of this kind of tournament means a lot to me.”

The odds will most certainly be in Sinner’s favour when he goes up against Ruud in the final, but the Norwegian has already pledged to raise his game for the occasion.

Quizzed on the prospect of facing Sinner on Friday, Ruud said: “I just have to try to approach it as any other match.

“Try not to think about the big wave in front, kind of with all the momentum he’s building, all the confidence and the records that he’s building and breaking.

“At the end of the day, he’s human. I have to try to think that way as much as I can. Last year, I was blown out of the court by him. We will both remember it. I hope that’s not the case [this time].

“I will try to stay in my lane, stay focused on the things I’m doing well. I know that against him, you have to raise your level two or three times to hang with him.”

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