Ruud beats Darderi to reach Italian Open final. Sinner-Medvedev suspended by rain

ROME (AP) — Casper Ruud maintained his focus during a nearly two-hour rain delay to rout home player Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1 and reach the Italian Open final for the first time on Friday.

The match was suspended with Ruud leading 4-1 in the first set.

In Sunday’s final on the red clay of the Foro Italico, Ruud will face top-ranked Jannik Sinner or former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev.

Sinner led Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 4-2 when their semifinal was suspended due to rain. The match will resume on Saturday.

Coco Gauff will play Elina Svitolina in the women’s final on Saturday.

Rome is the last big warmup before the French Open starts in nine days.

Ruud has reached two finals at Roland Garros, losing to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic in 2023.

Ruud was once ranked as high as No. 2. He’s now No. 25 but will return to the top 20 on Monday. He has dropped only one set in Rome this year — to Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals.

The 20th-ranked Darderi, who was born in Argentina to a family of Italian descent, saved four match points in a three-set win over Alexander Zverev in the fourth round then won another marathon match against Rafael Jodar in a quarterfinal that ended at 2 a.m.

After winning the first set easily, Sinner appeared fatigued as Medvedev stepped up his game and started running him around the court with drop shots and groundstrokes to the corners.

After several points, Sinner bent over in apparent exhaustion and leaned on his racket for support.

Sinner came back from a 3-0 deficit in the second only to get broken again in the final game and hand the set to Medvedev.

A bad bounce helped Sinner break Medvedev’s serve early in the third.

Sinner then had his right thigh treated by a trainer midway through the second set.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Italy's Jannik Sinner takes a break as he plays against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini))

Italy's Jannik Sinner receives medical treatment during a medical timeout during the semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia, at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini))

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates as he plays against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a ball to Italy's Jannik Sinner during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Casper Ruud of Norway returns a ball to Luciano Darderi of Italy during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Jannik Sinner ask to the referee to stop the match because of the rain during the semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini))

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried will be sidelined for at least two weeks and perhaps longer because of a bone bruise of his left elbow.

“Definitely bummed that I’m going to have to be missing some time, but overall happy that it doesn’t look like it’s going to be anything serious," Fried said before Friday's Subway Series opener against the Mets at Citi Field. "No surgery required or anything like that. So, never want to go on the IL and miss games, but also understand that the long-term outlook still looks good.”

The 32-year-old had an MRI and CT scan Thursday, a day after he cut short a start at Baltimore following the third inning. He also was examined by Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.

New York said Fried will be placed on the 15-day injured list and the imaging will be reviewed by Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. The Yankees said repeat imaging will be taken in a few weeks or when Fried is asymptomatic to determine when he can resume throwing. A more specific return projection will be determined then.

“I think we’re looking at a little bit of an ambiguous timeline," Fried said.

Fried had Tommy John surgery in 2014. He said his reconstructed UCL is not injured.

“Ligament looks good," he said.

Fried is 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 10 starts this season after going 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA and making the All-Star team in his first season after leaving Atlanta to sign a $218 million, eight-year contract with the Yankees.

New York appears to have decent starting depth.

Carlos Rodón rejoined the Yankees’ rotation last weekend after recovering from surgery last October to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.

Gerrit Cole is nearing a return from elbow ligament replacement surgery in March 2025. Cole has made five minor league rehab starts, and Boone said the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner will make two or three more. Cole is scheduled to start Saturday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

New York’s rotation also includes Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.

Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, has been in the minors for much of the season and was placed on the injured list last Friday because of right shoulder inflammation.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)