Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev were locked in a gripping battle at the Italian Open before heavy rain forced their semi-final to be suspended on Friday night in Rome.
The world No. 1 was leading 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 when play was halted, ending a contest that had already swung dramatically in momentum and emotion.
Sinner now stands just two games away from reaching the final, but questions remain over his physical condition after a worrying third-set collapse in energy levels.
The Italian started brilliantly, dominating Medvedev with aggressive baseline hitting and sharp movement. He raced into a 4-0 lead in the opening set and looked ready to cruise into the final.
But the match turned in the second set as Medvedev stayed patient and capitalised on Sinner’s visible discomfort.
Throughout the match, Sinner repeatedly leaned on his racquet during breaks and appeared short of breath. In the deciding set, he also required medical treatment on his thigh.
Despite those struggles, he showed immense determination to regain control, breaking Medvedev early in the third set with a roar that fired up the home crowd.
Just as the contest reached its most intense stage, rain interrupted play and organisers later confirmed the match would resume on Saturday.
Waiting in the final is Casper Ruud, who brushed aside Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1 in a rain-affected semi-final. The Norwegian was calm and clinical throughout, using his experience to dominate the Italian youngster.
Ruud will now prepare for a difficult final against either Sinner or Medvedev, with the Italian Open title still wide open heading into the weekend.