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, it’s 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.
Medvedev actually complained to the umpire about Sinner, as he took a medical time-out to combat what seemed like cramps just before he appeared to vomit on court.
Casper Ruud might justifiably fear the most in-form player on the planet, but in this state, anything could be possible.
Casper Ruud previews potential Italian Open final vs Jannik Sinner
Speaking at his press conference after his routine semi-final win over Luciano Darderi, the three-time Grand Slam finalist was asked about the prospect of facing Jannik Sinner before his match had even concluded.
This question was posed after he had won the first set with ease.
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Ruud was keen not to get too ahead of himself, but did state: “Well, 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 he’s building, all the confidence and the records that he’s kind of building and breaking.
“At the end of the day he’s 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 that’s not the case.
“I will just try to stay in my lane, stay focused on the things I’m doing well, know that against him you have to not raise your level but two or three times in order to hang with him. That’s the goal I will think about for tomorrow in practice and the match.”
There is cause for optimism within his camp, especially given how Ruud recently achieved something that not even Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz can match.
Casper Ruud’s head-to-head record vs Jannik Sinner
Ruud, much like the rest of the tennis world, has not enjoyed much success against Sinner in the past.
However, for the Norwegian star, his struggles have been worse than most.
After all, he has faced the world number one on four occasions and has lost every time. If they were to meet in the Italian Open final, history would not be on Ruud’s side.
What’s even more worrying is, this time last year, they actually met in this very event.
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That was their last clash, and it saw Sinner, who had only just returned to tennis, crush the 27-year-old on his favourite surface, 6-1, 6-0.
If he is to trouble the four-time Grand Slam champion, it will take something truly special.
