Daniil Medvedev Defeats Holger Rune, Wins Rome Title | ATP Tour

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.

“I always want to believe in myself and I always want to win the biggest tournaments in the world. But at the same time, I didn’t think I could win a Masters 1000 on clay in my career because usually I hated it, I hated playing on it. I didn’t feel good on it and nothing was working.

“Before this tournament already in Madrid and Monte-Carlo I wasn’t feeling too bad. I thought, ‘OK, let’s continue’. Then when I came here I felt so good in practice and I told my coach, ‘I don’t know what is happening but I am feeling amazing, so let’s see how it goes’. But then you have to play the toughest opponents in the world to try to make it. I am really happy I managed to do it and to prove to myself and everyone else that I am capable of doing it.”

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.

“It was a tough match,” Medvedev said. “I think we were both a bit nervous at the start and I think we were both missing our basics. We were missing some easy shots, so I am happy I managed to step it up at the end of the first set. But then at the start of the second set he stepped it up straight away and I was like ‘OK, this is the moment I have to start playing better and go to his level’. Then it was a top match from this stage.”

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…