Sinner finishes off Medvedev to set up Italian Open final vs. Ruud

ROME (AP) — Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 when their rain-delayed semifinal resumed on Saturday and set up an Italian Open final against Casper Ruud.

Top-ranked Sinner is one victory away from becoming only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic has won each Masters tournament at least twice.

Sinner led 4-2 in the third set when the match was suspended late Friday. The Italian finished off the match in 15 minutes on Saturday, sealing it on his third match point after Medvedev fended off two on his serve.

“It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge,” Sinner said. “Usually, during the night, I don’t struggle to sleep but this time it was not easy.

"You are in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again and you never know what is happening. It is like the start of the match as there are nerves again. I am very happy with how I handled this situation and that I am back in the final.”

Earlier Friday on the red clay of the Foro Italico, Ruud routed home player Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1.

Coco Gauff plays Elina Svitolina in the women’s final later Saturday.

The men’s final is scheduled for Sunday.

Sinner is also attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will present the trophy on Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella also slated to attend the men's final.

After winning the first set easily on Friday, 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 had his right thigh treated by a trainer midway through the second set.

Sinner came back from a 3-0 deficit only to be broken again in the 12th game and concede the set to Medvedev.

A bad bounce helped Sinner break Medvedev early in the third and take control for good.

Sinner has won all four of his career meetings with Ruud without dropping a set — including a 6-0, 6-1 rout in the Rome quarterfinals last year.

“Jannik is chasing history,” Ruud said. “I have to be the guy to try to stop him, and it will not be easy playing here in his home country. ... Last year, he really (routed me) here on the same court, so of course I’m looking for revenge. But at the same time I realize that he’s an incredible player and a unique talent.”

Sinner lost last year’s final to Carlos Alcaraz, who is sidelined due to a right wrist injury. Jasmine Paolini in 2025 became the first Italian woman to raise the trophy in 40 years.

Sinner hasn’t lost since Feb. 19 in the Qatar Open quarterfinals. He has won 28 straight matches and a record five successive Masters titles. He could become the second man to win all three Masters tournaments on clay — including Monte Carlo and Madrid — in the same season after Rafael Nadal in 2010.

Sinner has won 10 of his last 11 meetings with Medvedev.

After Rome for Sinner is the French Open, the only Grand Slam event he hasn’t won. The titleholder, Alcaraz, will also miss it.

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

Italy's Jannik Sinner cheer with Daniil Medvedev of Russia after winning their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

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)

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 returns a ball to Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Michael Kim made the most of his new life at the PGA Championship and shot a 5-under 30 on the front nine Saturday, using the strength of six birdies to get off to a terrific start to the third round at Aronimink Golf Club.

Kim, who has never finished better than 17th in any major, was outside the cutline in Round 2 until he chipped in for eagle on his final shot to extend his weekend.

He took advantage of his early start on moving day and cracked the top 10, well before leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy were set to tee off in the afternoon. Kim made more birdies on the front nine Saturday than he did in the first two rounds combined. He opened with three straight birdies before a bogey on four.

Kim nearly holed out from the rough on the seventh and finished with his sixth birdie in the first seven holes. He put the move in moving day, jumping from 93rd after one round to 53rd after the second to ninth through the first nine holes at Aronimink.

Two long days at Aronimink produced the highest 36-hole score to par to lead the PGA Championship in 14 years. The 15 players separated by two shots made it the biggest logjam going into a weekend at a major since 2002.

The difference between first and worst among 82 players who made the cut was only eight shots, unusually tight for any tournament, much less a major.

Kim's blistering start was an early sign that low scores might allow more golfers to zip into contention in an already crowded leaderboard.

There was some serious cash at stake, as well as the prestige of winning a major.

The PGA Championship raised its total prize fund this year to $20.5 million, a $1.5 million increase from last year but still third among the three American majors.

The winner’s share will be $3,690,000.

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

Fans watch on the seventh hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Maverick McNealy hits from the first fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Alex Smalley lines up his putt on the 17th green during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Michael Kim, of South Korea, hits from the 18th tee during first round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)d

Michael Kim, of South Korea, watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)