Medvedev overcomes multiple rain delays to beat Tsitsipas in Rome

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev were called and dismissed more than once during a rain-plagued day in Rome with the Russian handling it better overall 7-5 7-5.

The first set opened with Medvedev playing a bit better and taking an early break which he held until 4-2. Tsitsipas broke back at that time to make it 4-3 after which play was stopped. It didn't resume for a long time with players only playing one game which Tsitsipas won before being forced to leave the court once again.

It was 4-4 and eventually, the rain did stop with players stepping outside to try it for a 3rd time. The third time was the charm as the match continued with Tsitsipas holding serve comfortably to make it 5-4 and then Medvedev doing the same to make it 5-5. Tsitsipas held a 40-0 lead in the next game but lost the next few points to drop his serve and then lost the next game as well.

The Russian won 9 points out of the last 10 in the set to take it 7-5. That huge lapse in focus persisted at the start of the second set as Medvedev once again took a 2-0 lead. He would hold it for a while but Tsitsipas came back to make it a tie match. Medvedev would break one final time at 5-5 to take a 6-5 lead in what looked very similar to the first set. He would then close it out 7-5.

Great win for Medvedev who is proving that he can be good on clay.