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Daniil Medvedev captured his first clay-court trophy and sixth ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he defeated 20-year-old Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5.
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. He sat deep behind the baseline and absorbed pressure on the red clay in Rome and twice rallied from a break down in the second set against the seventh seed Rune, who was aiming to win his second Masters 1000 title.
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, though, also defeating 2017 champion Alexander Zverev and 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Medvedev has clinched a Tour-leading five titles this season, including the trophy in Miami last month. He is first in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and is up to No. 2 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings after earning his 39th win of the season in one hour and 41 minutes.
Rune was 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 holds a 7-2 record against Top 5 opponents.
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.
In an entertaining final, Medvedev demonstrated patience to hang in rallies and frustrate Rune. The 27-year-old won 83 per cent (20/24) of his first-serve points in the first set and earned the decisive break of the set in the 12th game.
Rune responded by breaking Medvedev’s serve at the start of the second set and was in consistent dialogue with coach Patrick Mouratoglou during changeovers. However, from 5-3 up, Rune faltered. Medvedev locked in from the baseline and refused to miss, piling the pressure on Rune, who failed to serve out. The third seed then gave Rune nothing in the 12th game of the second set to break again and improve to 1-1 in his ATP Head2Head series against the Dane.
Did You Know?
Medvedev has won 20 tour-level titles, with all 20 coming at different events.
More to follow…
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