John Isner and Diego Schwartzman’s partnership continued its dream run at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Saturday, as the ‘little and large’ combination overcame Andrey Golubev and Maximo Gonzalez in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Isner and Schwartzman won 81 per cent (38/47) of points behind their first serve in the match, but Golubev and Gonzalez were still able to clinch the only break of the second set and force a Match Tie-break on Pietrangeli.

A tense climax saw Isner and Schwartzman let a first match point slip at 9/8 in the Match Tie-break, but they made no mistake the second time around to complete a 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 victory and move within one win of a Masters 1000 title in their first tour-level appearance together.

The triumph makes Isner the first player to reach three Masters 1000 doubles finals with three different players in the same year. The American lifted the trophy at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with countryman Jack Sock in March, and then claimed the Miami Open presented by Itau crown with Hubert Hurkacz later that month.

In Sunday’s championship match, Isner and Schwartzman will face third seeds and defending champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, or home favourites Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini.

Novak Djokovic earned his 1,000th career tour-level win on Saturday with his 6-4, 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The Serbian turned pro in 2003 and scored his first ATP Tour victory in 2004. Fittingly, he captured his 1,000th win in Rome, where he is a five-time champion and has never lost before the quarter-final stage in 16 appearances. 

The 34-year-old will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final as he attempts to claim a record-extending 38th ATP Masters 1000 title to go along with his 20 Grand Slam trophies and 86 tour-level titles. 

How well have you been following the World No. 1 throughout his legendary career? Take our quiz to test your knowledge and look back at some of the highlights from Djokovic’s march to 1,000 wins.

Matteo Berrettini is back on the practice court after undergoing surgery on his right hand in March, but the World No. 8’s comeback schedule will not include competing at Roland Garros at the end of May.

“Following a very positive update from my medical team, I am now back on-court training at a high level,” announced the Italian on Instagram on Saturday. “My hand is feeling great and I am working hard to build up my match fitness.

“My team and I have made the decision that going straight back into five-set matches on clay at Roland Garros would not be sensible, therefore I will delay my comeback to compete in the full grass season.”

Berrettini reached the quarter-finals in Paris last year before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, his best run at the Grand Slam event in the French capital, which will be held this year from 22 May to 5 June. The 26-year-old Berrettini is currently 9-6 for the 2022 season, having reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January.

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Despite the disappointment of missing out on this year’s clay season, Berrettini will return on another surface on which he has enjoyed significant success. The Italian won a second grass-court title at the Cinch Championships in London last year, before going on to reach a maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic captured his 1,000th tour-level victory on Saturday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. To celebrate the Serbian reaching this historic landmark, ATPTour.com looks back at the records of Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, with all five ATP Tour stars hitting the 1,000 match-win record in the Open Era.

Most Tour-Level Wins in Open Era

Age on 1,000th Win

Record as of 1,000th Win

Tour-Level Titles as of 1,000th Win

Grand Slam Titles as of 1,000th Win

Record vs. Top 10 as of 1,000th Win

Most-Often Defeated Opponent as of 1,000th Win

Longest Winning Streak

Statistics courtesy of Joshua Rey

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev wrote another gripping chapter in their 2022 clay-court rivalry at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Saturday afternoon, with fourth-seeded Tsitsipas running out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 winner in the semi-finals in Rome.

In the third clay-court ATP Masters 1000 semi-final between the pair this season, Tsitsipas recovered from the disappointment of losing a hard-fought opening set to complete a stirring comeback win and reach the final in the Italian capital for the first time.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” said Tsitsipas after the match. “I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.”

The victory was Tsitsipas’ 31st of 2022, extending his lead over second-placed Carlos Alcaraz (28) on the leaderboard for most match wins for the season. His run to the semi-finals in Rome has moved the Greek up one place to No. 4 in the Pepperstone Live ATP Rankings, and Tsitsipas’ outstanding form on the clay has put him among the favourites for the French Open at Roland Garros in a week’s time.

The Greek was particularly strong on serve throughout against Zverev and stayed consistent from the baseline to halt his opponent’s early momentum in an engrossing two-hour, 29-minute win. Tsitsipas was delighted to have made it a maiden championship match in Rome, having suffered semi-final disappointment against Rafael Nadal in 2019.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport,” said Tsitsipas. “As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

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Tsitsipas was a straight-sets winner over Zverev en route to the title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in April, but the German exacted revenge for that semi-final defeat with a three-set win in the final four at the Mutua Madrid Open a week ago. Tsitsipas and Zverev are the only players to reach the semi-finals at all three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments on clay this season, meaning anticipation was high for a blockbuster clash at the Foro Italico.

A high-quality opening saw no break points in the opening six games, with both players demonstrating the impressive serving that has powered their strong form on the clay this year. It was Zverev who made the first move, converting the only break point of the set for 4-3, and the German found enough first serves to resist a Tsitsipas fightback as he clinched an entertaining first set.

As in Madrid last week, Tsitsipas was able to recover from dropping the opening set to generate a momentum swing in the second. The Greek was aided by a lapse in Zverev’s level, however, with the second seed double faulting to hand Tsitsipas an early break for 2-0. Although Zverev deployed his first serve to good effect to fend off Tsitsipas’ efforts to break again, the Greek remained comfortable behind his own delivery to force a decider.

Although he competed well throughout, Zverev was never quite able to regain the consistency in his groundstrokes from the first set. Tsitsipas’ ballstriking remained solid rather than spectacular, but that proved enough to break the German twice more as the Greek ran out a comfortable winner in the deciding set.

The win extends Tsitsipas’ ATP Head2Head series lead over Zverev to 8-4. The Greek will play for a third Masters 1000 title in Sunday’s championship match, where his opponent will be World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or fifth seed Casper Ruud.

Novak Djokovic returned to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings Friday with a 7-5, 7-6(1) win over Felix Auger-Aliassime, guaranteeing a 370th week at the top of men’s tennis on Monday. After failing to serve out both sets at 5-3, the Serbian regrouped to close out each one in supreme style.

“I thought it was high-level tennis,” Djokovic said post-match. “He did ask me to raise the level and I had to play consistently well. I thought I could have finished the job earlier… but credit to him for fighting back. Amazing atmosphere as well tonight.”

After getting past the eighth seed in the pair’s first ATP Head2Head meeting, Djokovic still has significant milestones on his mind over finals’ weekend at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

On Saturday, the Serbian seeks his 1,000th tour-level win when he meets Casper Ruud in the semi-finals. Should he advance to the final, the Belgrade native will chase a record-extending 38th ATP Masters 1000 title Sunday, one week shy of his 35th birthday.

Dropping 600 points at the beginning of this week for his runner-up finish in the Italian capital last year, Djokovic slipped to No. 2 behind Daniil Medvedev in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. (Reigning US Open champion Medvedev dropped just 10 points from an opening-round loss in Rome in 2021.) By adding 360 points for reaching the semi-finals, Djokovic has now reclaimed top spot.

Djokovic’s quarter-final win was far from routine despite a mid-set break in each stanza. Both he and Auger-Aliassime showcased their shotmaking and movement in equal measures throughout the match, dragging each other wide with extreme angles and up to net with well-timed drop shots.

The highlight-filled match was encapsulated by two points in the Canadian’s final service game. After Auger-Aliassime tracked down a drop volley for an impossible sliding winner, Djokovic raised the roof with his own forehand flick from the frontcourt.

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The World No. 1 also produced earlier hot shots on two crucial points on Centre Court. He finessed a cross-court forehand winner on set point in the opener, unleashing a roar after breaking the Canadian’s stubborn resistance. On his fourth break point of a long return game at 3-2 in the second, Djokovic flighted a teasing topspin lob just out of the reach of a leaping Auger-Aliassime to secure his third break of the match.

The 21-year-old showed great spirit to fight back in both sets. He broke back immediately in the first set to deny Djokovic’s attempt to serve it out, then created two break points in response to falling behind 2-4 in the second. After saving a match point on serve, Auger-Aliassime broke in his next return game to extend the contest, but could not match the World No. 1’s untouchable level in a one-sided tie-break.

“I know Felix well. He’s been around the top of the men’s game for quite a few years,” Djokovic said of his worthy opponent. “He’s got a lethal serve, honestly… He’s hitting his spots in the box incredibly well with the serve, and it was not easy for me at all to return. He’s also returning well, he’s moving well. He’s a very complete player.

Djokovic dominated the Balance of Power and Conversion & Steal metrics in the match. He hit 27 per cent of his shots from attacking positions and converted 78 percent of the points in which he gained an attacking advantage, while also stealing 34 per cent of points from defence.

Djokovic next faces Ruud in a rematch of the 2020 Rome semi-finals. He also faced the Norwegian in the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals, winning both matches in straight sets.

“Great quality opponent again,” Djokovic previewed. “Clay-court specialist, but he has improved a lot in other surfaces, played the final of Miami this year. Just a very hard worker, nice guy.

“We practise a lot and get along well off the court. Tomorrow obviously on the court we want to win against each other, no doubt… Hopefully I can play as well as I did tonight.”

Four of the Top 5 men’s singles seeds have advanced to the semi-finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, making for a star-studded semi-final Saturday at the Foro Italico. Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet at that stage for the third time at an ATP Masters 1000 in the past four weeks, while World No. 1 Novak Djokovic goes for his 1,000th tour-level win as he takes on Casper Ruud in a rematch of the 2020 Rome semis.

In doubles action, John Isner continues his bid for a third Masters 1000 title with as many partners as he looks to book his final place alongside first-time partner Diego Schwartzman.

View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw | View Schedule

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [4] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Zverev and Tsitsipas split their recent semi-final meetings on the European clay, with the German winning a three-setter in Madrid after Tsitsipas dominated in Monte Carlo. Their ATP Head2Head stands at 7-4 in favour of Tsitsipas, including a 3-1 edge for the Greek on clay.

Two of the game’s in-form players enter Saturday’s showdown with a combined 54 match wins on the 2022 season, with Tsitsipas’ 30 pacing the ATP Tour ahead of Carlos Alcaraz’s 28. The 23-year-old has made deep runs at each of the four clay-court events he’s played this year. After defeating Zverev en route to a second straight Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title, he reached the Barcelona quarter-finals before his progress to the semis at the ATP Masters 1000s in Madrid and Rome.

Tsitsipas this week overtook Rafael Nadal at No. 4 in the  Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings and his deep run in Rome ensures that the Greek will rise to No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday. Tsitsipas reached a career-high of World No. 3 in August 2021.

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Zverev has also been to at least the semis at all three of this season’s clay-court Masters 1000s, including his final run last week in Madrid. The German is a five-time champion at that prestigious level, winning three of those titles on clay. He earned the first of those five titles in Rome in 2017, when he beat Djokovic in the final at the age of 20.

The second seed has not dropped a set on his way to the semis, getting past Sebastian Baez, Alex de Minaur and Cristian Garin in straights. Tsitsipas opened with a pair of three-set wins in Rome, saving two match points in his opening match to beat Grigor Dimitrov in a third-set tie-break. He came back from a set down against Karen Khachanov in the last 16 before overcoming home favourite Jannik Sinner and the Italian crowd, 7-6(5), 6-2, in the semis.

Zverev can move to within 140 Pepperstone ATP Rankings points of World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev by winning his second Rome title.

Both Zverev and Tsitsipas have reached the semi-finals with a relentless attacking gameplan. The German leads the remaining field in the Balance of Power metric, which tells us that he has played 28 per cent of his shots in an attacking position this week in Rome. Tsitsipas is second of the four semi-finalists by that measure at 26 per cent. Looking at the Conversion & Steal rates, the Greek’s 71 per cent conversion rate from attack exceeds Zverev’s 66 per cent mark. Conversely, Zverev has stolen 35 per cent of points from defense, six percentage points higher than his opponent and second only to Djokovic.

Looking ahead to their Saturday showdown, Tsitsipas spoke highly of his rival, who is 16 months his elder.

“We have similar game styles but he is one of the most difficult players to play against on the Tour,” Tsitsipas previewed. “I have a lot of respect for him. He has achieved a lot so far and I try and look up to him with the things he has achieved.”

[1] Novak Djokovic (SER) vs. [5] Casper Ruud (NOR)

Djokovic moved up to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals, already defending 360 of the 600 points he earned as a 2021 Rome finalist. After confirming his stay as World No. 1, he can now turn his attention to earning his 1,000th career win. 

The Serbian has not dropped a set in two previous ATP Head2Head meetings with Ruud, scoring wins in the 2020 Rome semi-finals and at the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals. After an early exit in Monte Carlo, he worked his way into form by reaching the final in his home city of Belgrade and the semis last week in Madrid.

After dropping just seven games against Aslan Karatsev and Stan Wawrinka in Rome, he passed a stern test against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals. In a highlight-filled match of supreme quality from both sides, the Serbian was at his best late in both sets of a 7-5, 7-6(1) victory.

Ruud entered the European clay swing on a high after reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami — a hard-court run that surprised even him. But he struggled on his favoured clay ahead of Rome, coming into the Italian capital with just four wins in his previous four events. He’s bounced back brilliantly from an opening-match exit in Madrid by advancing to his fifth Masters 1000 semi-final this week.

“Great quality opponent again,” Djokovic said of the Norwegian. “Clay-court specialist, but he has improved a lot in other surfaces… Just a very hard worker, nice guy.

“We practise a lot and get along well off the court. Tomorrow obviously on the court we want to win against each other, no doubt… Hopefully I can play as well as I did tonight.”

Doubles SFs

John Isner and Diego Schwartzman will face fellow unseeded duo Andrey Golubev and Maximo Gonzalez on Pietrangeli as they look to extend their undefeated record as a team. The American-Argentine pairing survived a pair of Match Tie-breaks in the opening two rounds before scoring a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over Harri Heliovaara and Lloyd Glasspool in the quarter-finals.

Currently at a career-high of No. 22 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, Isner is up to No. 22 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Live Rankings and could rise as high as No. 18 with the title.

Following Djokovic vs. Ruud on Centre Court, third seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic will close out the evening against Italians Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini. The home favourites won a pair of Match Tie-breaks either side of a walkover to book their semi-final place, battling back from a set and a break down on Friday to edge two-time Roland Garros champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies of Germany, 6-7(3), 6-4, 11-9.

Defending champions Mektic and Pavic have not dropped a set this week and will be confident of claiming their first ATP Tour title of the season as the lone remaining seeds in Rome.