What made the opening stages so fascinating was the rhythm shift across the three sets. Sinner started with authority, using his cleaner ball-striking and heavier pace to dictate from the baseline and keep Medvedev pinned deep behind the court. Medvedev responded in the second set the way he often does: by absorbing pressure, extending rallies, and waiting for the first dip in the opponent’s level. That claw-back was classic Medvedev tennis. But by the time Sinner moved ahead in the third, the match had begun to reflect his superior intensity and timing again.

That is why the rain matters so much. A delay in tennis is not just time off court; it is a reset of momentum, tension, and decision-making. For a player like Sinner, who relies on rhythm, aggression, and a constant sense of forward pressure, a stoppage can be a nuisance because it interrupts the flow he has built. When he is striking the ball cleanly and feeling the court, he wants the match to keep moving. Any pause risks cooling that fire, especially when the finish line is already visible.

For Medvedev, though, the delay could be a lifeline. As a deep-court defender and counterpuncher, he is often at his best when he gets time to breathe, recalibrate, and mentally rebuild the problem in front of him. If he was being pushed around before the rain, the interruption gives him a chance to slow the pace, flatten the energy of the stadium, and return with a cleaner defensive plan. In matches like this, Medvedev does not always need to change the score immediately. He just needs the game to become uncomfortable enough for the aggressor.

That is what makes the pause so intriguing from a psychological standpoint. Sinner was in control, but not completely safe. Medvedev had already shown he could claw back one set and had enough experience to know that a mid-match interruption can reset the mental balance. The delay effectively turns the rest of the semi-final into a new contest, even if the scoreboard still shows Sinner in front.

Home-soil pressure adds another layer. Sinner is not only trying to reach another final; he is carrying the weight of expectation in front of a partisan Rome crowd. A delay can magnify that pressure because the player leading the match has more to lose when play resumes. Every missed first ball, every tentative return, and every long rally can suddenly feel heavier. Medvedev, by contrast, can come back with less emotional burden and more tactical patience.

So while the rain may look like a simple weather interruption, it has already changed the story. Before the stoppage, Sinner had the upper hand. After it, the match becomes a test of who can recover their identity faster. In that sense, the weather has not just paused the semi-final. It has rewritten its momentum.

Daniil Medvedev made a comeback for ages

Medvedev started the match on a high note as he clinched the first game of the first set, only for the youngster German Zverev to go on a spirited run and clinch the next four to build up a 4-1 lead over Medvedev.

The Russian put on an impressive fightback on display and fired back to tie up the set at 5 games each, before Zverev clinched the next two in a row to call it a set.

Zverev continued to wreak havoc in the second set as well, putting away the Russian with ease to win the second set 6-3. Medvedev gave his all in the third set, as both players fought neck to neck in a nail-biting affair. It led to break points, where the Russian finally triumphed and put away Zverev 7-6 (7-4), to keep his chances alive.

Daniil Medvedev fired on all cylinders as he made his way back in a high-stakes fourth set to clinch it yet again at the end, snatching the set away from Zverev 7-6 (7-5) and pushing the German for one final showdown.

The Russian carried on with his momentum and retaliated at Zverev to snatch the set 6-3, booking a spot in the final.

After winning, he said: “I was a little bit lost during the third set – I was feeling tired physically – but I just said to myself, ‘if I lose this match, I want to be proud of myself’. I thought, ‘let’s go more aggressive’. If it doesn’t work out, at least I tried. I wanted to fight to the end, fight for every point. If I lose, I lose. I managed to win, so I’m very proud.”

Medvedev is all set to have the showdown with Jannik Sinner and we will have to wait and see who gets the chance to lift the coveted trophy.

“No war please,” says Daniil Medvedev

Tension has risen in Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military assault on neighboring Ukraine. This has caused him to receive backlash from all across the globe. Putin’s Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, claims that 137 soldiers and civilians died on Thursday. Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv has been on the end of explosions as a result of Russia’s supposed ‘peacekeeping mission’.

Following his clash, Daniil Medvedev delivered a strong message. He took a marker in hand and wrote “No war please” on the camera. You can check out the video clip below:

Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev writes "No war please" on the camera lens following his advancement to the final in Dubai. #RussiaAttacksUkraine

pic.twitter.com/Ow8VBZtRSn

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 25, 2022

Not only that, the Russian star spoke his heart out on the unfortunate political tensions. “By being a tennis player I want to promote peace all over the world,” he said after reaching the semi-finals of the Mexican Open. “We play in so many different countries. I’ve been in so many different countries as a junior and as a pro. It’s just not easy to hear all this news. I’m all for peace.”

After Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships by Jiri Vesely, Medvedev became World No. 1 for the first time in his career. Medvedev also reacted to the doubles partnership between Russian Andrey Rublev and Ukrainian Denys Molchanov, who won the Men’s Doubles title at Marseille’s Open 13 last week.

The two stars Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal will take to the court in Mexico in the early hours of Saturday morning to determine one of the finalists of the Mexican Open.

Novak Djokovic loses in the final against Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev had totally dominated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to prevent the first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1969 and this has kept Djokovic on level terms with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Daniil Medvedev stuns Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Ksup0ClAEI

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021

The match was undoubtedly the biggest of all 1,176 career matches of Djokovic. But, he made two unforced forehand errors to relinquish a break in the first game to Medvedev, who held through to take the first set in 36 minutes, never facing a breakpoint. It was the fifth consecutive match in which Djokovic dropped the first set.

The 2019 US Open runner-up Medvedev was able to bag his first Grand Slam title in his third Slam final, a rematch of February’s Australian Open final, won in straight sets by the 34-year-old Serbian to launch his Slam quest.

Following the win, Medvedev said: “Sorry for you fans and Novak because we all know what he was going for. What you have accomplished in your career… for me, you are the greatest tennis player in history.”

While Novak Djokovic said: “Congratulations to Daniil. Amazing match. If there’s anyone that deserves a Grand Slam title right now, it’s you. Even though I have not won the match, my heart is filled with joy and I’m the happiest man alive because you guys have made me feel special on the court.”

ALSO READ: 18-year Old Emma Raducanu wins US Open Final

Djokovic was unsuccessful to bag the US, French and Australian Opens, and Wimbledon in the same year for the first time since Rod Laver did it 52 years ago with 83-year-old Aussie legend Laver among 23,700 watching at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Djokovic missed out on his fourth US Open title and will be heading to 2022 equaled with his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent with injuries, on an all-time record 20 men’s Slam titles.

Medvedev became the third Russian man to win a Grand Slam title after Yevgeny Kafelnikov at the 1996 French Open and 1999 Australian Open and Marat Safin at the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open.

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18-year Old Emma Raducanu wins US Open Final

Andy Roddick was the last man outside the Big Four to hold the numero uno spot, all the way back in November 2004. And while Medvedev was down and out with covid 19 ahead of the Monte Carlo open, he has lately been in the form of his life and a continuous upward trajectory, which culminated in him ousting Rafa from top 2.

And while Rafa, regained the number 2 spot courtesy of an impeccable title win in Barelona,the gap at the top remains pretty slim.

The commotion at the top-

Daniil Medvedev has relatively few points to defend in the coming weeks. The Russian will drop a combined 15 points in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros compared to 1,600 for Djokovic and 2,090 for Nadal.

Djokovic is not in action this week in Madrid, but he will keep 500 points (50% of the points from his 2019 title) due to the current “best of” FedEx ATP Ranking formula, which has been recalibrated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also read:Madrid Open 2021: Carlos Alcaraz set to meet Rafa in a dream birthday meeting

The Serbian is guaranteed to keep at least 500 points in Rome, where he won the title last year. He is still plenty motivated to keep his top spot, which he has held for a record 319 weeks.

“In order to stay at the top-ranking spot, you have to keep playing and not just keep playing, but keep making successful runs at most of your events in order to have a chance,” Djokovic said. “Being at No. 1 is also a huge responsibility, but you feel that rear window pressure from Daniil at this point or Rafa or whoever it is. There’s always somebody. The challengers want to get there. They want to challenge you, they want to push you.

“I think the more they push me, the more I have the motivation to work even harder to stay there.”

Nadal at a minimum will hold onto 180 points in Madrid (50% of the points from his 2019 semi-final) and 90 points in Rome (50% of his 2020 quarter-final). Since Daniil has not won a match at those events, he will only drop five points from each (50% from opening-match exits).

Daniil Medvedev’s greatest dream?

The Russian admits it would feel “amazing” if he’s able to battle his way to World No. 1.

“It’s one of the goals of the career. When you go from the juniors to professionals, you want to get in the Top 1,000, then you want to get in the Top 500, and [those are] small goals. Now I’ve reached almost every place except the No. 1 [spot], so it’s going to definitely mean a lot [if I get there],” Medvedev said.

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The #NextGenATP Italian made a slow start to his first-round match, but he recovered quickly to defeat 2017 finalist Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 6-4 on Court des Princes. Sinner rallied from 0-2 in the first set and broke serve on three occasions to improve to 15-5 this season.

On the other hand, world number 5 Stefano Tsitsipas too made a winning start to the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday after the world No 5 cruised past Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4, and into the last 16.

Sinner ready for the Djokovic test-

Sinner has passed many tests with flying colours during his young career. But his second-round clash against Djokovic at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will be one of his toughest tasks yet. The tournament debutant will try to stun the 36-time ATP Masters 1000 champion, and he’s excited for the opportunity.

Also read: Monte Carlo Masters 2021-Blockbusters on the card after a rain-washed day 2

“I will definitely have a game plan,” Sinner said. “I know who is on the other side. Obviously, it’s a tough match I think from my side because I don’t know him that well. [I have] seen him a lot on TV, watching matches. But when you play against [him] in a match, it’s different. I’m looking forward to that match.

“It’s a good test for my side to see where I am, especially where I can improve. I know where I can improve, but this kind of match can give me a lot. I just try to go there with the right mentality like in every match.”

The top-seeded Djokovic, who is pursuing a third title at this tournament, is certainly not taking the challenge lightly. The 33-year-old has watched Sinner quickly ascend, and the Italian can continue that climb with one of his biggest victories yet.

“In that period of two, three years, when he was a junior coming up, we trained a lot actually in Piatti’s academy, here in Monaco, both [on] hard courts, clay courts,” Djokovic said. “I have seen his development, so to say, his trajectory, his road to where he is at the moment. It’s really impressive.

Corona chaos in Monte Carlo-

World tennis number two Daniil Medvedev has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from this week’s Monte Carlo Masters, the ATP says. 

“It’s a big disappointment not to play in the Monte-Carlo,” Medvedev said in the statement.” My focus is now on recovery and I look forward to getting back on tour as soon and as safely as possible,” he added.

The ATP on Monday posted a video of Medvedev’s practice session in Monte Carlo with Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

The governing body did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nadal’s participation in the tournament.

Nadal is scheduled to start his campaign against F. Delbonis of Argentina at 1:30 PM local time today.

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Other than Nadal and Djokovic, also a part of the fray would be word number 2 Daniil Medvedev and World number 5 Stefano Tsitsipas. Notable absentees include Dominic Thiem, who is still nursing a foot injury that he got at the Vienna Open. Also absent would be Roger Federer who is still spending a lot of time in training to get back to his best-come June.

The Rolex Monte Carlo Masters begins on the 10th of April with the final showdown expected on the 18th of April.

Nadal and Novak looking for a potential title clash in Monte Carlo-

Top seed Djokovic and third seed Nadal were placed in opposite halves of the ATP Masters 1000 draw, making it possible for the pair to meet in a fourth final at the Monte Carlo Country Club (2009, ’12-‘13).

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Djokovic, a two-time Monte Carlo champion (2013, ’15), may not be able to face Nadal until the final Sunday, but he will face an immediate test in the Principality.

In his first appearance since his ninth title run at the Australian Open, Djokovic will meet Miami Open presented runner-up Jannik Sinner or 2017 finalist Albert Ramos-Vinolas in his opening match. The Serbian is yet to meet Sinner at tour level, but he owns a 6-0 ATP Head2Head record against Ramos-Vinolas.

On the other hand, in the bottom half of the draw, 11-time champion Nadal will also make his first appearance since the Australian Open. The Spaniard will start his bid for a 12th Monte-Carlo crown against Adrian Mannarino or a qualifier in the second round, after getting an opening-round bye.

Nadal has 71-5 record in Monte Carlo where he has fallen short of the quarter-finals just once – on his debut in 2003 as a 16-year-old.

The NextGen challenge-

Also, a title contender would be the Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev who recently became the first player outside the ‘Big Four’ of Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray to reach number two in the world since Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in July 2005.

However, he is wary of his chances on clay.

His 10 career titles have all come on hard courts while he has never won a match at Roland Garros in four visits.

“Maybe in 2050 I’ll manage to get past the first round at Roland Garros,” the mercurial Russian joked.

Medvedev and Nadal are in the same half of the draw and could be heading for a potential semifinals clash.

The likes of Stefano Tsitsipas and Janik Sinner too can surprise with heavy bets being placed on both the players.

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With this win, Ashleigh Barty has further widened the gap at the top of the WTA rankings between her and Naomi Osaka. Barty, who had also been taken to three sets in the fourth round by Victoria Azarenka, was given another testing challenge in a hard-fought quarter-final battle.

Men’s top seed Daniil Medvedev too eased past Frances Tiafoe of the United States in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. He hammered down 11 aces in the win, breaking Tiafoe three times en route to victory.

Barty’s tryst at the top-

Ashleigh Barty just needs one more win to retain her rankings at the top of the WTA table and she seemed visibly excited over the whole chain of events.

However, the Australian insisted she was not preoccupied with holding on to top spot.

Also read: Miami Open 2021-Simona Halep withdraws; Barty, Rublev, and Tsitsipas advance

“It’s an amazing thing to be No. 1 in the world at the moment, but I promise you that’s not what makes me happy,” Barty said.

Earlier in the day, Sabalenka provided Barty with a tough challenge and even recovering from 3-1 down to claim the second set 7-5.

However,Barty regrouped in the third though and with Sabalenka clearly in pain clutching her stomach, rammed home her advantage to complete a deserved win.

The Australian will face Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the semi-finals on thursday.

Medvedev continues his golden run-

Just two days after surviving cramps in his third-round win against Alexei Popyrin, Daniil Medvedev earned a place in his maiden Miami Open presented by Itau quarter-final on Tuesday with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Frances Tiafoe.

In hot and humid conditions on Grandstand, the World No. 2 landed 24 winners and outlasted his opponent in baseline rallies to advance in 92 minutes. Medvedev, who is competing as the top seed at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time, is chasing his fourth trophy at the level this week.

“It was definitely a tough match,” said Medvedev. “[There were] a lot of great points, some of them he won, some of them I won… The serve helped me a lot today, especially in the second set.”

Medvedev will face Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the semi-finals. In the opening match on Grandstand, the Spaniard saved a match point to defeat 2018 champion John Isner 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7) in two hours and 18 minutes.

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Daniil Medvedev too celebrated his rise to second in the world with a seamless entry into the Miami Open on Friday, trouncing Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun in less than an hour. Russia’s Medvedev needed just 56 minutes to subdue Lu 6-2, 6-2, firing nine aces with just one double fault as he advanced to a third-round meeting with Australian Alexei Popyrin, a 6-4, 6-2, winner over 30th-seeded American Reilly Opelka.

On the other hand, Alexander Zverev suffered a shock exit at the hands of 83rd-ranked Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Naomi Osaka’s minor tumble-

Osaka acknowledged she was feeling some nerves in her first match since she lifted her fourth Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

“I would say what I’m most proud of today, just being able to handle my nerves,” she said.

Also read:Medvedev Rising-The Russian phenomenon ousts Nadal from top 2

That was a bigger problem than the gusty wind on Grandstand Court at Hard Rock Stadium, where 77th-ranked Tomljanovic twice went up a break in the opening set but despite an impressive display of power was eventually undone by 24 unforced errors.

Thirteen aces among her 36 winners helped Osaka overcome a slew of unforced errors of her own and set up a third-round meeting with Serbian qualifier Nina Stojanovic, who surprised Yulia Putintseva, the 26th seed from Kazakhstan, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

Serving into the sun in the final game, Osaka clunked her shot off the lip of her racket, blooping the ball past an astonished Tomljanović.

“That was actually kind of funny when I got past my frustration,” Osaka said. “The sun was like on top of a cloud, and it gave off this really weird glare effect.”

“It was kind of my fault for being stubborn and not trying to catch my toss and wait it out,” she added.

Medvedev’s might in Miami-

Medvedev, the top seed in an ATP Masters event for the first time, was all over Lu from the opening game.

He belted 24 winners to become the second player — along with compatriot Andrey Rublev — to reach 15 match wins this year.

Medvedev also recently became the first player outside the “Big Four” of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to rank second in the world since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.

But he’s already looking for more.

“The only thing I feel like when you reach something you haven’t done then straight away it doesn’t matter and you want to go further and further,” he said. “I think it’s the same for everybody. “

“I’m happy about my achievement but only trying to improve every day and want to go further.”

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Stanislas Wawrinka has for the most part of his career been the quintessential underdog. On the national stage, his hard-hitting style was overshadowed by Federer’s artistic beauty. On the international stage,it was the “Big-four” into whom he constantly ran into in the latter stages of Grand slams. Not to mention the constantly reoccurring knee and back injuries throughout his illustrious career.

And yet again, just when it seemed that Wawrinka was getting back to his best, another injury has come to the fore to halt his progress. Chances are that the beloved Swiss would be out of action for the next 5 to 6 weeks and thus missing on the buildup tournaments to the clay season.

Wawrinka’s Woes continue-

Wawrinka underwent knee surgery following his last ATP title in 2017 and had trouble with injuries through 2018, during which his ranking fell to 263. He is currently ranked 21st.

Also read:Medvedev Rising-The Russian phenomenon ousts Nadal from top 2

Wawrinka lost in the Australian Open second round last month before losing in the last-32 at Rotterdam and Doha earlier this month.

However, he seemed to be getting back into rhythm for one final push before hanging his tennis shoes.

But, Wawrinka said Thursday that he would be out “for a few weeks,” with the French Open starting May 23. He won at Roland Garros in 2015.

“After having some problems in my left foot for a while, I have decided to do a small procedure on it,” Wawrinka wrote on his social media accounts.

“I will be out for a few weeks, but can’t wait to start practising again soon.“he added.

Miami Open updates-

Top seed Daniil Medvedev will begin his campaign against Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun in the second round of the Miami Masters tonight.

British teenager Jack Draper’s ATP Tour debut ended abruptly after he collapsed on court during his first round match at the Miami Open against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin on Thursday.

The sunny, humid and hot conditions on Court 2 appeared to have taken a toll on the 19-year-old wildcard during the first set which lasted 81 minutes. With Kukushkin leading the set 6-5, Draper appeared distressed and he had his heart-rate checked courtside by medical staff before deciding to continue.

However,his return was short lived as Draper collappsed yet again and eventually choosing to retire.

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