Rome [Italy], May 16 : World No. 1 Jannik Sinner reached the Italian Open final on Saturday by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the semi-final clash at the Campo Centrale in Foro Italico, Rome.
The semifinal match between Sinner and Medvedev had started on Friday, with Sinner comfortably taking the first set before Medvedev responded in the second, breaking in the 12th game to force a deciding set, according to the ATP website.
As rain fell late in the evening, officials suspended play until the next day. When the match resumed on Saturday, it was over almost as soon as it restarted. Medvedev saved two match points, but Sinner soon sealed the victory, finishing the contest just a few minutes after returning to court.
Sinner will now meet Casper Ruud in Sunday's final, after Ruud ended the run of Italian Luciano Darderi with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 win in the other semifinal.
After the win, Sinner said it was a difficult challenge, especially after the overnight suspension of play. He admitted he didn't sleep easily and found it mentally tough to restart the match from a deciding set, with nerves returning as if it were a new match. Despite that, he said he was pleased with how he handled the situation, happy to reach the final again, and relieved to have finally closed out a long and demanding match.
"It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge. 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 back in the final," Sinner said after the match as per the ATP website.
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