
Hearts slam 'disgraceful' pitch invasion and report 'serious' abuse at Celtic Park
Hearts slam 'disgraceful' pitch invasion and report serious abuse at Celtic Park
Casper Ruud awaits his opponent in the Italian Open final as rain delays the match between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. Sinner leads in the deciding set, increasing the likelihood of facing Ruud.
Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images
Casper Ruud will have to wait to find out who he will face in the Italian Open final, with a rain delay postponing the match between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. However, with the former, a break-up in the deciding third set, itās fair to begin assuming that it will be him.
What makes it even more likely that the 24-year-old will progress is the fact that this break, enforced due to yet another downpour in Rome, came as he seemed to be struggling physically during the match.
Daniil Medvedev voiced his frustration to the umpire after Sinner took a medical time-out for what appeared to be cramps before vomiting on court.
Ruud might understandably be wary of facing one of the hottest players on tour right now, but given Sinnerās condition, anything feels possible.
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Ruud spoke to reporters after his straightforward semi-final victory over Luciano Darderi, and was asked about the prospect of facing Jannik Sinner before his match had even concluded.
The question came after Sinner had taken the opening set comfortably.
Ruud was careful not to look too far ahead, but he did say: āWell, I just have to try to approach it as any other match, try not to think about the big wave in front kind of with all the momentum heās building, all the confidence and the records that heās kind of building and breaking.
āAt the end of the day heās human. I have to try to think that way as much as I can. Last year I was kind of blown out of the court by him. We will both remember it, of course. I hope thatās not the case.
The match was postponed due to rain in Rome.
Casper Ruud is likely to face Jannik Sinner, who is leading against Daniil Medvedev.
Jannik Sinner was leading with a break in the deciding third set before the rain delay.
The rain delay postpones the final match, leaving Ruud waiting to find out his opponent.

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āI will just try to stay in my lane, stay focused on the things Iām doing well, know that against him you have to not raise your level but two or three times in order to hang with him. Thatās the goal I will think about for tomorrow in practice and the match.ā
There are reasons for Ruudās team to feel encouraged, too ā especially after his recent achievement ā something neither Sinner nor Carlos Alcaraz has managed yet.
Sinner has been a tough opponent for Ruud, and he hasnāt had much success against him in the past. In fact, his struggles have arguably been worse than most others.
He has played the world number one four times and lost every match. A potential Italian Open final would pit Ruud against an opponent heās never beaten.
Even more worrying is that their last meeting was in this very tournament a year ago.
Sinner, fresh off a return to tennis at the time, dominated 6-1, 6-0 on clay. For Ruud to change that narrative this time around, heāll need to deliver something remarkable.
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