Jannik Sinner powered through one of his most testing nights on the ATP Tour, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Italian Open in Rome on Saturday, 17 May 2025, to reach the final of his home Masters 1000 event. The match, spread across two days due to heavy overnight rain, lasted two hours and 37 minutes in total — with Sinner needing just 15 minutes on Saturday to close out the victory.

How the Match Unfolded

Sinner was dominant in the opening set, winning 92 per cent of first-serve points — 11 of 12 — according to Infosys ATP Stats. But Medvedev recalibrated effectively in the second, absorbing pressure and pushing the Italian deeper behind the baseline with smart variation and court positioning, eventually levelling the contest with a clean backhand winner that drew a stunned silence over Campo Centrale.

The third set saw Sinner regroup sharply. He carved out a crucial break for 2-1 and celebrated with a thunderous roar — a clear release of tension that signalled he had regained control. He then led 4-2 before heavy rain forced the suspension of play at 9:45 p.m. CEST on Friday night.

The Overnight Suspension

Sinner returned to Campo Centrale approximately 18 hours later on Saturday afternoon. He held to love and earned two match points on Medvedev's serve, though he could not convert them. He ultimately sealed the win on his own delivery, advancing with clinical efficiency after the overnight break.

'It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge,' Sinner said after the match. 'Usually, during the night, I don't struggle to sleep, but this time it was not easy. You are in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again, and you never know what is happening. It is like the start of the match, as there are nerves again. I am very happy with how I handled this situation and that I'm back in the final,' he said.

Historic Milestones Within Reach

By reaching the Rome final for a second consecutive year — having lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 title match — Sinner now stands one win away from completing the Career Golden Masters. A victory over Casper Ruud in Sunday's final would make the 24-year-old only the second man in history, alongside Novak Djokovic, to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles.

Sinner also extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 33 matches, surpassing Djokovic's previous benchmark of 31 set earlier in the tournament against Andrey Rublev. He became only the second player after Rafael Nadal in 2011 to reach the final of the season's first five Masters 1000 events, having already won titles in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid.

What Happens Next

Sinner faces Ruud in the Italian Open final on Sunday. A win would complete the most storied individual Masters 1000 collection in the sport's history — and cement Sinner's status as the dominant force in men's tennis heading into the clay-court Grand Slam season.