Italian Open 2023: Daniil Medvedev triumphs over Holger Rune in straight sets in Rome Masters final

Daniil Medvedev completed his transformation on clay with a hard-fought victory over Holger Rune to claim a shock Italian Open triumph.

The Russian has made no secret of his discomfort with the surface in the past but capped a sparkling run in Rome, where he had previously never won a match, to defeat the 20-year-old Dane 7-5 7-5 in one hour and 42 minutes.

Medvedev will now rise above Novak Djokovic to No. 2 in the world and will be seeded second at Roland Garros.

The Russian also takes his overall tally of titles on the men’s tour to 20 with his sixth at Masters 1000 level and a first on the red dirt.

The mixed weather that has blighted this fortnight of tennis in Rome once again led to a lengthy one hour and 40-minute delay to the proceedings but, when the final did get underway, it was the No.7 seed Rune who made the early running, dropping just three points in his first three service games and posing the more significant questions on the return.

Medvedev had to work hard to fend off the Dane, scrapping back from 0-30 to dig out a tricky hold before leaning on some clutch serves to save two break points from deuce to edge 3-2 ahead after a pair of double faults had put him in deep trouble.

That encounter with Bayer Leverkusen was a close affair and this opening set was equally tight with both players refusing to budge. However, Rune was up against the scoreboard pressure and he creaked for the first time when trying to force a tie-break.

Medvedev earned his first break point of the match in Game 12 when he outmanoeuvred his opponent to lure a lob just long, and he made it count to pinch the opener in 47 minutes with a rasping crosscourt winner to punish a drop shot with too much air.

Rune responded to the setback instantly at the start of Set 2, consolidating for a 2-0 lead after unloading off both flanks on his way to an emphatic break to love.

Medvedev came roaring back with three games in a row, snaring the break back when he twice dug out passes up the line with the Dane exposed at the net.

The Russian looked to be on course for a tour-leading fifth title and 39th match-win of the campaign, but he suddenly imploded to cough up another break in Game 7 with a pair of poor drive volleys and a costly double fault after Rune had won the longest tally of the contest with a sizzling backhand up the line.

The Dane, who is the youngest player to reach the Rome final since Rafael Nadal (19) in his title run of 2006, had the chance to serve out the set 6-4 but threw in a succession of tight errors to allow Medvedev a reprieve and level once more.

The Russian then piled on the pressure again at 5-6 and Rune could not cope, succumbing on a second match to allow Medvedev to win a 20th tour level title in his 20th different tournament.

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