Rain intervened in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia semifinal between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, leaving the match unfinished on Friday evening. Sinner held a 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 advantage when chair umpire Aurélie Tourte suspended play with Medvedev at ad-in.

Earlier in the deciding set the Italian had raised concerns about the court conditions after missing a break-point opportunity, prompting a discussion with Tourte before the suspension. Medvedev left the court without an umbrella as play was halted.

Signs of physical concern for the world No. 1 were visible before the stoppage. He was bent over in a corner of the court while trailing 1-3 in the second set and later requested a medical timeout during the deciding set changeover when the score was 3-2.

Sinner is pursuing a Career Golden Masters on home soil and carries a 32-match winning streak at the ATP Masters 1000 level into the interruption. Medvedev, a former champion in Rome, won here in 2023 for his first clay-court title.

The suspension came with momentum still unsettled. Sinner had recovered after dropping the second set, and the third had begun with both players trading games until the rain intensified. With Medvedev serving at ad-in, the match was paused and will resume when conditions allow.

Tournament officials and the chair umpire determined the court unplayable at that moment. The stoppage leaves the outcome pending and preserves the possibility that both players will return later to complete the semifinal. The status of Sinner’s physical issue will be monitored when play resumes, and Medvedev’s decision to leave without cover was noted as he walked off court.

On a long, sunlit afternoon at the Foro Italico in May 2006, two contrasting images of men’s tennis met on clay and created a defining moment. Roger Federer arrived in traditional whites and composed poise. Rafael Nadal showed up as the teenage force in calf-length pants, a sleeveless shirt, and untamed hair. By then their rivalry had already been developing for two years: Federer was world No. 1 and in the peak of a dominant season; Nadal was the young challenger who had won four of their first five meetings.

Their Rome final stretched over five hours and five sets and was immediately seen as more than a match. “We have lift-off,” Tennis Magazine asserted. “Federer-Nadal is starting to have that Ali-Frazier ring,” the New York Times prophesied. “Fantastic finish in Rome,” USA Today blared. Nadal prevailed 6–7 (0), 7–6 (5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6 (5), a result that felt like a turning point in the sport.

“It’s a day I cannot forget,” said Rome tournament director and longtime player-agent Sergio Palmieri in a soft voice of awe, as he looked back on the 2006 final. “What really hit me was how big the respect was between the two guys. The intensity of that match was really unbelievable.”

The match was played in the Foro’s intimate, now-demolished Campo Centrale, a setting that amplified every topspin rally and emotional reaction. Nadal used heavy lefty topspin from the back of the court and relentless defense; Federer countered with a one-handed backhand, artistic racquet work, and aggressive net forays. Reflecting on earlier losses, Federer said, “He doesn’t hit the ball flat and hard. It’s more with a lot of spin, which makes the ball bounce, bounce high, and that’s a struggle I had today. I tried to get out of it, but I couldn’t.”

After the match Federer acknowledged missed chances. “I had a couple of match points, I pulled the trigger too early,” Federer said. “I definitely played some of the best attacking tennis on clay that I could play. But he defends so well and makes you doubt.” Nadal later described his approach simply: “You can’t even call it a tactic, it’s so simple,” he wrote in his autobiography, Rafa. “I play the shot that’s easier for me, and he plays the one that’s harder for him.”

Tensions cooled in the months that followed, and the rivalry matured into one of the sport’s most consequential duels.

Daniil Medvedev arrived at his quarterfinal with Martin Landaluce playing close to his best. His returns landed on the baseline, forehands skidded through the corners, overheads dipped at the last moment and swing volleys found open court. The usually defensive-minded Russian shifted into attack and produced a complete performance.

His reward is a Friday semifinal against top-seeded Jannik Sinner, who finished his quarterfinal in straight sets many hours earlier. Recent history is stark: Medvedev is 1-9 in his last 10 meetings with Sinner and has gone set-less against him for nearly two years. He also comes in on less rest and will face Sinner in front of a partisan home crowd helping the top seed chase his national title.

Medvedev’s path is clear. He must replicate the aggression he showed against Landaluce and lean on the version of himself that pushed Sinner to the limit in the Indian Wells final in March. That match went to tiebreaks in both sets and Medvedev had chances in each. Sinner, despite showing physical discomfort late in that match and also during his recent quarterfinal against Andrey Rublev, recovered with high-quality serving and shotmaking to close out matches in two sets. Medvedev can test Sinner physically and trade from the baseline, but Sinner enters as the solid favorite. Winner: Sinner

Earlier in the week Luciano Darderi moved from low profile to centre stage. The Italian, born in Argentina to a teaching pro father, has five career titles and has been ranked as high as No. 18. He rallied from a set down to beat Tommy Paul, saved match points against Alexander Zverev and survived a mid-match charge from Rafael Jodar, often finishing with dominant third sets fueled by home support.

Darderi now meets Casper Ruud, a two-time Roland Garros runner-up who has taken down higher seeds Jiri Lehecka, Lorenzo Musetti and Karen Khachanov. Ruud has 12 of his 14 titles on clay, is the more experienced player and is contesting his fourth Rome semifinal. The pair have never met. Darderi will again need the crowd; Ruud’s serve and forehand make him the favorite. Winner: Ruud

Start time: 1:00 p.m. ET | 10:00 a.m. PT (Medvedev vs Sinner)
Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET | 6:30 a.m. PT (Ruud vs Darderi)