Sinner-Medvedev left hanging by night-time rain

Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev were shut down Friday as their Rome Masters semi-final was interrupted overnight by rain, with the Italian lead 6-2, 5-7, 4-2.

With forecast for the rest of the night dire, officials pulled the plug and scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

The winner will take on Casper Ruud, who crushed Italian Luciano Darderi with the loss of just two games in another rain-interrupted semi which lasted for barely an hour on court.

Sinner, bidding for history if he reaches the Sunday final as the only man to win five Masters titles in a row. was looking fragile in the second set as he sat down trailing 3-1 in a semi-final watched by icon Boris Becker. 

He appeared to vomit quietly into a courtside container and looked shaky while taking hydration at the changeover while breathing heavily and at one point clutching at his midsection.

he later took a debatable medical timeout leading 3-2 in the third set, a mov which drew Medvedev complaints over a possible illegal visit since it could have been due to cramping – not a treatable injury during a match under the rules.

But the player from the German-speaking northern Alto Adige region held on, saving set points in the second before Medvedev squared at a set apiece.

Sinner went up a break in the third set but was unable to close out the painful win.

The rain began, with Medvedev hapy to play on while Sinner was reluctant and did not hide his feeling from the chair umpire.

The match went off court at 10:45 pm with the rain continuing.

Sinner and Medvedev were meeting for the 17th tie, with the Italian standing 9-7..