Daniil Medvedev marched into the final of the Italian Open with a straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7-5 7-5, in Rome after numerous interruptions.
While the Russian earned a showdown with Holger Rune in tomorrow’s final, he had to deal with the frustration of persistent rain delays.
With the first set poised at 4-4, Medvedev was hoping for the match to be halted because of the weather. Speaking with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, Medvedev said: “It’s raining heavy, as you see.”
Lahyani declined to take the players off, pointing out that Medvedev had just served with the same weather. Medvedev responded, insisting “but I didn’t want to serve!”
The umpire continued, explaining “we have been playing like this for eight games now. It’s the same as before.”
Moments later, the rain got heavier, and Lahyani finally indicated that the players would have to leave the court.
Medvedev couldn’t resist one more jab at Lahyani, saying “I know it’s raining. It’s obvious. I knew it five minutes ago!”
Despite the frustration of the weather, Medvedev displayed consistency and skill. Executing deep groundstrokes and employing his effective drop shot.
His dominant return game led to crucial breaks on the damp clay. He also stayed composed on his serve, sealing his 38th win of the season.
Despite twice being forced to leave the court due to the weather, Medvedev was a model of consistency.
Eurosport
