Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner’s rain-delayed Italian Open semi-final was packed full of drama and controversy.
Struggling physically on Friday evening, Sinner called for a medical time-out during the third set.
Medvedev complained to the umpire, suggesting Sinner was receiving treatment for cramps, which is forbidden.
Was Jannik Sinner wrong to call a medical time-out?
Daniil Medvedev wasn't happy!
After Medvedev lost to Sinner when play resumed on Saturday, the Russian provided a solution to the medical time-out problem.
Daniil Medvedev says players should be allowed to call medical time-outs for cramps
During his post-match press conference, Medvedev shared his thoughts.
“Actually, first I wanted to say impossible to sell, but I actually have a solution: allow physical, allow medical treatment for help,” said Medvedev.
“Sorry. Allow medical, meaning physio, three minutes, when you have cramps.
“Then there’s no problem because then a player could say, I have cramps, I need a physio.
“For the moment, it’s not allowed.
“I completely understand.
“Of course, if you start cramping, maybe he was not, I have no idea. What you do is you ask for a physio, and you say, I have a small pain in the leg.
“Probably, I did it as well in my career.
“If medical would be allowed for cramps, there would be no problem, so this is a solution.”
Medvedev was unhappy with Sinner potentially receiving treatment for cramps, but only because it is against the rules.
He would welcome the treatment of cramps during medical time-outs, provided the rules permit it.
Medvedev’s proposed rule change would likely solve the issue, which has quickly gotten out of hand.
Players regularly receive medical time-outs for cramps, and it is nearly impossible for umpires to punish them for it.
Allowing players to do what many are already doing would put the issue to bed.
Daniil Medvedev responds when asked if the ATP locker room talk about Jannik Sinner’s physical issues
The controversy around the medical time-out somewhat overshadowed the latest instance of Sinner struggling with his fitness.
In January, Sinner nearly exited the Australian Open as he suffered in the extreme Melbourne heat.
Seemingly unbeatable on tour, having last lost a match in February, the Italian’s main, or only weakness, is his physical condition.
During Medvedev’s post-match press conference, he was asked if players in the locker room discuss Sinner’s ‘physical crisis’.
“No, definitely not talking about this in the locker room because we try, I think, not to discuss, like, tennis,” he said.
“When I say ‘tennis in the locker room’, meaning we don’t look at a match and say, Look at his backhand, it’s so bad. Everyone should go there. At least I didn’t discuss this with anyone.
“Look, it’s very tough to play him. So to win a point, you need to hit a lot of shots. I try to win the points, so I hit a lot of shots.
“I don’t know if maybe there was something else, but the points were physical. It was tough for me, as well.
“He was struggling. Whenever I play Novak [Djokovic], it’s a bit the same. Novak many times was struggling against me physically. Were there some other guys? I mean, I guess Rafa [Nadal], I struggled physically. But it was the same story. We played many shots because that’s how I play as well. I don’t think there is more to this.
“Again, whenever someone is going to be good enough to play against Jannik in the baseline game, because there is no other way to win, it’s going to be a struggle for both.
“We saw in Monte-Carlo that he was struggling as well, but he won.
“That he struggles is not a problem for him to win. The only kind of chance you have is to play this 30-shot rally, try to win them. Then you’re both going to struggle.”
Daniil Medvedev loses his fifth consecutive match against Jannik Sinner
Medvedev troubles Sinner more than most players on tour, but not enough to beat him.
Or at least this version of him…
After winning their first six career meetings, Medvedev has lost 10 of their last 11.
Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Italian Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 |
| 2026 Indian Wells – F | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2024 ATP Finals – RR | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2024 Shanghai Masters – QF | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 6-1, 6-4 |
| 2024 US Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| 2024 Wimbledon – QF | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 Miami Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2024 Australian Open – F | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – SF | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 |
| 2023 Vienna Open – F | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2023 China Open – F | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2023 Miami Open – F | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2023 Rotterdam Open – F | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2022 Vienna Open – QF | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2021 ATP Finals – RR | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 6-0, 6-7, 7-6 |
| 2021 Marseille – QF | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2020 Marseille – 2R | Daniil Medvedev | Jannik Sinner | 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 |
It remains to be seen if Medvedev can turn things around against Sinner, but it will certainly be interesting to see how their rivalry develops.
Sinner and Medvedev could potentially meet at the upcoming French Open, which begins on Sunday, May 24.
