ROME/WASHINGTON, May 16, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
When World No. 1 Jannik Sinner returned to Campo Centrale at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia Saturday afternoon, up a break in the deciding set, he needed to win just two games – two service holds – against World No. 9 Daniil Medvedev to reach his second-consecutive championship match at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome.
The top seed from Italy has been the focus of much attention this week as he attempts to complete a career Golden Masters and to also win his sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title – and fifth one this year.
Meanwhile, Medvedev was aiming to win his second Rome title after winning the 2023 crown in the Eternal City, but was also pushed to three sets for the third time during the Rome fortnight – and second straight – after defeating Martin Landaluce of Spain in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Not at his best? Still the best 💁♂️
Jannik Sinner outwills Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to reach a SIXTH consecutive Masters 1000 final!@janniksin | #IBI26 | @atptour pic.twitter.com/AQxkgWMEeo
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 16, 2026
As it happened, Sinner beat the No. 7 seed Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, in two hours and 37 minutes across two days to collect his 33rd-consecutive ATP Masters 1000 victory and to become the first Italian man in the Open Era to reach back-to-back Rome finals. They returned to complete their semifinal after it was suspended by rain Friday night. Sinner wrapped up the last-four victory in about 15 minutes of playing time following their warmups.
“It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge,” Sinner said afterward, during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “Usually, during the night, I don’t struggle to sleep but this time it was not easy.”
The Sinner-Medvedev semifinal started Friday evening and saw the Top-10 players split the first two sets, with Sinner dominating the opener and Medvedev recovering to pull out the second. Then, Sinner led 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 with Medvedev serving at Ad-40, when the players were pulled off the court by chair umpire Aurelie Torte at 9:45 p.m. Soon after, the tarpaulin was pulled over the red-brick playing surface, and Sinner and Medvedev were sent packing to the locker room after the rain began to intensify following two hours and 22 minutes of play.
Play was ultimately cancelled for the evening at 11 p.m., and rescheduled to resume not before 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
A titanic battle awaits its outcome 🎬
Sinner and Medvedev are back on court with the world No.1 up a break in the third set#IBI26 | @atptour pic.twitter.com/AMY6mvAesv
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 16, 2026
After an 18-hour, 22-minute delay since the last point was contested, Medvedev resumed play with his third ace of the match to hold serve. Then, after the changeover, it was Sinner’s turn to serve – and he held quickly and with authority. His seventh ace gave him a 30-0 cushion and, soon, he led 5-3.
Next, Medvedev fell behind 15-40, after a double fault and a pair of unforced errors went against him. He faced two match points. Medvedev saved the first match point with an ace, then the second one after Sinner lunged and swatted a backhand long on a service return.
From deuce, Medvedev went on to hold serve after Sinner netted a pair of returns. Finally, when it was Sinner’s turn to serve out the victory, ahead 5-3, he got the job done. Sinner set up his third match point with a solid forehand winner. Then, he won the semifinal with a ninth-shot, cross-court backhand winner that left Medvedev frozen in his tracks.
“You are in the third set, nearly done but you still have to show up again and you never know what is happening,” Sinner said. “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 am back in the final.”
CAN’T LOSE. WON’T LOSE.
This Sunday, @janniksin goes for the Golden Masters 🏆#IBI26 | @atptour pic.twitter.com/yNMmNoCD5b
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 16, 2026
By the conclusion, Sinner accumulated 39 winners to 30 unforced errors, compared to Medvedev’s total of 23 winners and 37 unforced errors. Sinner won 75 percent (41 of 55) of his first-serve points, saved five of seven break points and converted four of 10 break-point opportunities. Sinner outpointed Medvedev 108-88.
Sinner, who improved his career head-to-head against Medvedev to 10-7 after losing their first six encounters, is now 35-2 in 2026, while Medvedev dropped to 24-8.
During his post-match news conference, Medvedev spoke in positives despite losing to Sinner.
“ Nice feeling to play such good tennis, especially … I mean, even first set I thought I didn’t play that bad. When you play Jannik and you don’t play 110 percent, you cannot play bad and lose 6-2. I managed to raise my level in the second,” he said.
“Even today, I mean, was a bit fast. Kind of happy how I tried almost like 30-All, saved a couple of match points on my serve. So happy with the level. Disappointed to lose.
“In terms of confidence, look, every week is a new week. Good to do this level before Roland-Garros, but it’s going to be new journey there. Let’s see what it brings.”
From all the angles 📐#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/6266g3VdrK
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 16, 2026
On Sunday, Sinner will try to break a 50-year drought since the last Italian man won this event (Adriano Panatta in 1976). He will face World No. 25 and 23rd seed Casper Ruud of Norway, who eased past World No. 20 and 18th seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, 6-1, 6-1 in the first semifinal Friday afternoon, which had its own rain delay of about two hours. The victory was Ruud’s 17th in 26 matches this season.
Sinner will bring a 4-0 head-to-head against Ruud into the championship final, including a 6-0, 6-1 win in the quarterfinals of last year’s Rome event.
“Yeah, obviously very happy. It’s a very special tournament for me and for us Italians. I’m very happy to find myself again in the final,” Sinner said during his post-match news conference.
“But mentally I know tomorrow is a tough match. Final’s always very different to play. Happy to find myself again in any case in the final. Let’s see what’s coming.”
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Around Foro Italico
In doubles, due to a rain delay earlier Saturday, the two men’s doubles semifinals wound up taking place at the same time on different courts. It was an effort to keep the remainder of the Saturday order of play on Campo Centrale – the resumption of the Jannik Sinner-Daniil Medvedev men’s singles semifinal followed by the women’s singles final between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina – on schedule.
First, on Supertennis Arena, two-time Rome champions and current No. 2 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos defeated unseeded Austin Krajicek of the United States and Nikola Mektic of Crotia, 6-7 (10), 7-5, 10-2, in two hours and 15 minutes.
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Then, on Campo Centrale, No. 7 seeds and home favorites Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy held off No. 4 seeds Christian Harrison of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain, 7-6 (9), 3-6, 10-6, in two hours and four minutes. The victory advances Bolelli and Vavassori as the first all-Italian men’s team into the Rome doubles final in the Open Era (since 1968) and first overall since 1963 (Nicola Pietrangeli and Orlando Sirola).
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Saturday’s Italian Open results
Sunday’s Italian Open order of play
By the numbers
Since the series began in 1980, Novak Djokovic has appeared in the most ATP Masters 1000 finals with 60, followed by Rafael Nadal (53) and Roger Federer (50). Jannik Sinner is in seventh place with 14.
“Quotable …”
“It’s an individual sport after all. Comparing yourself to other players I think is the biggest mistake you can do. You have to trust yourself, your gut, and trust the things you’re doing are right.
“Yeah, I realize I will not probably break any huge records in this sport, but I can do as well as I can along my journey and along my career.”
– World No. 25 Casper Ruud of Norway, during his post-match news conference Friday after defeating World No. 20 Luciano Darderi, when asked to compare himself to others such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
