Medvedev Leads Rune In Rome Final

Daniil Medvedev is one set away from capturing first clay-court trophy and sixth ATP Masters 1000 crown after he won the opening set against Holger Rune 7-5 on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

After the start of the final was delayed by one hour and 40 minutes due to rain, the 27-year-old came out and produced a clean-hitting, consistent display in the first set. He sat deep behind the baseline and absorbed pressure on the red clay in Rome against the seventh seed Rune, who is aiming to win his second Masters 1000 title and first on clay.

Medvedev had never won a match in three previous appearances in Rome before this season. He has produced some of his best clay-court tennis in the Italian capital this fortnight, though, defeating 2017 champion Alexander Zverev and 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Medvedev has won four tour-level titles this season, including his fifth Masters 1000 trophy in Miami last month. He is first in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and will move to No. 2 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings if he can earn a Tour-leading 39th win of the season against Rune.

Rune is trying to become the youngest player to win the title in Rome since then-19-year-old Rafael Nadal lifted the trophy in 2006. The Dane defeated Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud en route to the final, and is chasing his eighth consecutive win against a Top 5 opponent in the title match against World No. 3 Medvedev.

Rune triumphed at the Rolex Paris Masters last year and is up one spot to No. 6 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings following his run to the final on debut in Rome. Earlier this season, the Dane defeated Medvedev en route to the title match in Monte-Carlo, before he captured his fourth tour-level crown in Munich.