Italian Open semis: Sinner leads Medvedev 4-2 in third, rain halts play
Synopsis
Jannik Sinner is two games from a sixth straight Masters 1000 final — and a shot at tennis history — after rain halted his Italian Open semifinal against Daniil Medvedev with Sinner leading 6-2, 5-7, 4-2. The match resumes Saturday, with a Career Golden Masters bid on the line.
Key Takeaways
Jannik Sinner leads Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 in their Italian Open semifinal, suspended by rain at 9:45 pm on 16 May .
Play resumes Saturday afternoon at Campo Centrale , Rome, ahead of the women's singles final.
Sinner is chasing a sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title and a place in history alongside Novak Djokovic as a Career Golden Masters winner.
The second set was only the third set Sinner has dropped during a 32-match Masters 1000 winning streak.
Sinner holds a 35-2 record in the 2026 season ; the semifinal winner faces Casper Ruud in Sunday's final.
Medvedev is seeking his second Rome title after winning here in 2023 .
Jannik Sinner stood on the brink of yet another ATP Masters 1000 final on Friday, 16 May, before persistent rain swept across Campo Centrale in Rome and suspended his charged semifinal against Daniil Medvedev at the Italian Open. The world No. 1 was leading 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 when officials called the players off court at 9:45 pm local time, with Medvedev serving at Ad/40.
Where the match stands
Play will resume on Saturday afternoon, ahead of the women's singles final between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina. Sinner needs just two more games to clinch his place in a second consecutive final at the Foro Italico. The winner of the semifinal will face Casper Ruud in Sunday's championship match.
A match of momentum swings
The contest had already delivered over two hours of high-quality tennis before the interruption. Sinner was dominant in the opening set, racing through it 6-2 with his trademark aggressive baseline game. The second set, however, told a different story — the Italian showed visible signs of physical discomfort between points, repeatedly bending over and struggling to catch his breath.
Medvedev seized on the opportunity, raising his intensity with a blend of solid baseline defence and well-timed drop shots to exploit Sinner's movement. Despite Sinner battling back from a break down to level the set, the Russian forced a decider — only the third set Sinner has dropped during a remarkable 32-match ATP Masters 1000 winning streak.
Sinner's historic pursuit
The 24-year-old Italian entered the semifinal having not conceded more than four games in a set throughout his run in Rome. He carries a stunning 35-2 win-loss record in the 2026 season and has saved five of seven break points faced in the semifinal so far.
Notably, Sinner is chasing a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title — a feat that would place him alongside Novak Djokovic as only the second player in history to complete the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
Medvedev's own ambitions
Medvedev is not without motivation of his own. The Russian is seeking his second Rome title after triumphing here in 2023, and only his second clay-court trophy of his career. He arrived in Rome having already claimed titles in Brisbane and Dubai this season, making him one of the tour's most in-form players heading into the clay swing.
With Sinner two games from the final and Medvedev searching for a way back, Saturday's resumption promises a tense conclusion to one of the tournament's most compelling matches.
Point of View
But the physical distress he showed in the second set is worth watching. A 32-match Masters 1000 winning streak is extraordinary, yet the cracks Medvedev exposed with his drop-shot game and baseline grind are exactly the kind opponents will study. If Sinner's movement is compromised on Saturday, Medvedev — who has already beaten him on clay — could make this far closer than the scoreline suggests. The Career Golden Masters narrative is compelling, but the body-language story from the second set may be the more consequential subplot.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current score in the Sinner vs Medvedev Italian Open semifinal?
Sinner leads Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 in the third set. Play was suspended on Friday, 16 May at 9:45 pm local time due to rain in Rome, with Medvedev serving at Ad/40.
When will the Sinner-Medvedev semifinal resume?
The match will resume on Saturday afternoon at Campo Centrale in Rome, before the women's singles final between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina.
Who will Sinner or Medvedev face in the Italian Open final?
The winner of the Sinner-Medvedev semifinal will face Casper Ruud in Sunday's championship match at the Foro Italico.
What record is Sinner chasing at the Italian Open 2026?
Sinner is aiming for a sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title. A victory in Rome would put him on course to complete the Career Golden Masters — winning all nine Masters 1000 events — a feat achieved only by Novak Djokovic.
What is Daniil Medvedev's history at the Italian Open?
Medvedev won the Italian Open in 2023 and is seeking his second title in Rome. A victory would also be only his second clay-court trophy of his career. He arrived in Rome having already won titles in Brisbane and Dubai this season.
