Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev to Contend Italian Open Final; Rune Defeats Ruud in Semifinal Perfect Tennis

The Italian Open final will be contested between two first-time Rome finalists, as Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev came through in Saturday’s semi-finals.

In the first semi-final, Holger Rune came from a set and a break down to defeat Casper Ruud for the first time and make his third Masters 1000 final in 6 months.

The second semi-final was quickly underway after the two Scandinavians had left the court, but it was soon disrupted by rain, with Tstisipas leading 5-4, having trailed by a break at 2-4.

On resumption, Medvedev snatched the first set 7-5, and his second set mirrored the first, again relinquishing an early break but breaking decisively at 5-5 before serving it out to fifteen.

Italian Open 2023 Semi-Final Results

Winner
Loser
Scoreline

Daniil Medvedev (3)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (5)
7-5 7-5

Holger Rune (7)
Casper Ruud (4)
6-7(2) 6-4 6-2

Rune Ravages Ruud

holger rune

Holger Rune defeated fourth seed Casper 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-2, coming from a set and a breakdown to make the final.

The Norwegian started the match nicely, with Rune struggling to unsettle him from the baseline, and although Rune saved three break points in the middle of the set, Ruud cartwheeled away with the tie break 7-2.

Ruud captured the match’s first break in the second set with some more solid baseline hitting. Rune immediately took a medical timeout for a non-existent injury, so it can only be described as tactical.

Despite the disruption, Ruud held for 4-2, but from there, his level dropped, and Rune reeled off the next four games to steal the second set.

After dropping the set, Ruud went into his shell and struggled to make any impact from the baseline, whereas Rune grew in confidence and started to dictate play with heavy, early ball striking. The Dane broke early, consolidated and broke again at 5-2 to book his spot in Sunday’s final.

I had nothing to lose in the second [set], so I just told myself to play freely and enjoy it as I thought it would be my last set here, I told myself to play aggressively and enjoy it, and I did it, and that was the key to the comeback. I really played some of my best tennis in the past two matches against Novak and then Casper. Two difficult players to play, so I had to find my best tennis, and I actually didn’t find it today, only at the end, and that is why I turned it around. Rune on his win over Ruud.

Match Stats

Holger Rune
Caper Ruud

Aces
1
9

Double Faults
1
6

First Serve
66/104 (63%)
47/88 (53%)

1st Serve Points Won
40/66 (61%)
34/47 (72%)

2nd Serve Points Won
28/38 (74%)
20/41 (49%)

Break Points Saved
5/6 (83%)
0/4 (0%)

Service Games Played
15
15

1st Serve Return Points Won
13/47 (28%)
26/66 (39%)

2nd Serve Return Points Won
21/41 (51%)
10/38 (26%)

Break Points Converted
4/4 (100%)
1/6 (17%)

Return Games Played
15
15

Net Points Won
24/38 (63%)
24/36 (67%)

Winners
42
37

Unforced Errors
10
14

Service Points Won
68/104 (65%)
54/88 (61%)

Return Points Won
34/88 (39%)
36/104 (35%)

Total Points Won
102/192 (53%)
90/192 (47%)

Highlights

Medvedev Masters Tsitsipas

medvedev rome masters

Medvedev broke early and quickly established a 4-2 lead. However, Tsitsipas clawed his way back, winning three games an in a row to lead 5-4 before the rain-delayed play.

On resumption, Medvedev came out of the traps quickly, holding for 5-5 and then breaking Tsitsipas, despite the Greek having three game points at 40-0. Medvedev served out the set to fifteen.

That loss of serve rocked Tsitsipas, and he dropped serve again immediately in set two; Medvedev consolidated and soon had a 3-1 lead.

Tsitsipas regrouped, finding his range on the forehand to break back and level at 3-3. Both players exchanged two holds each for 5-5, but just like the first set, Medvedev broke, showing his high-quality defence to make one more ball, and he served out the match to fifteen to make his first Rome final.

I enjoyed playing today. It was very tough with the rain delay; I warmed up six or seven times, but sometimes it can throw you off; you can be a little bit angry [about] the situation. Today, I don’t know why; I was just laughing. There were so many moments where I was with my coach, [and he said], ‘OK, they are opening the court; let’s go warm up’. We [went] there, started warming up, [and received a] text: ‘The rain is heavy; stop warming up’. We were laughing about this; we were actually OK. [We said], ‘OK, we [will] play’, and that’s what we managed to do. Medvedev on coping with the rain delays.