Daniil Medvedev beats Holger Rune to win maiden Italian Open title
The Russian wins his first clay-court title, reversing his defeat against Rune at Monte-Carlo to claim his fifth title of the season
Daniil Medvedev, holding the trophy at Rome, in 2023 | © AI / Reuters / Panoramic
Daniil Medvedev began his campaign at the 2023 Italian Open having never won a match at the tournament before. A fortnight later, he stands as the champion after a rock solid 7-5 7-5 win over Holger Rune.
The Russian has been candid about his disdain for clay-court tennis in seasons gone by, as the self-proclaimed hard-court specialist has struggled with the slow conditions on the red dirt of Europe.
Nowhere has this been more evident than in Rome, where the former world No. 1 had yet to win a match. This year, however, the penny has dropped for Medvedev.
Medvedev reverses clay-court fortunes at Italian Open
In a remarkable turnaround of fortune in the Italian capital, the 2021 US Open champion moved seamlessly through a complicated draw to claim his first ever clay-court title at one of the biggest tournaments on tour outside of the four Grand Slams.
In a closely contested final, the first set went on serve until the 12th and final game when Medvedev ramped up the pressure on his young opponent’s serve to earn the break and move into a one set lead.
Rune responded instantly at the start of the second stanza, breaking in the opening game of the set and consolidating on serve to move into a 2-0 lead.
33-0 for Medvedev winning the first set
In a topsy-turvy second set, Medvedev broke back in the fourth game as Rune showed signs of fatigue, before the Dane moved ahead once more by breaking to love in the seventh game following a very loose service game from the Russian.
Rune served for the set at 5-4 as the match looked to be heading into a decider. But Medvedev had a 32-0 record this season (now 33-0) when winning the first set, and he once again proved his formidable prowess as a frontrunner.
Exerting pressure just as the tension was showing in his less experienced opponent, Medvedev was able to clinch the crucial break to move back level at five games apiece.
From there, the Russian never looked back, moving into his trademark defensive wall mode which forced the Dane into long, tense rallies. Medvedev won the final two games as the mental toll of failing to serve out the second set was starting to show for Rune.
Masterful Medvedev adds Italian Open to trophy haul
This is now Medvedev’s fifth title of the season, and his second Masters 1000. Most significantly of all though, is that it marks his first milestone win on clay, after years of being unable to deliver on the dirt.
His form this season has been nothing short of breathtaking, and the fact that Medvedev’s dominance is now extending to surfaces other than hard courts is something that should ring alarm bells for the rest of the tour.
A former world No. 1, Medvedev will move back up to No. 2 when the new rankings are released, after a disappointing season last year that saw him slip down the pecking order.
In 2023, however, the indomitable Russian is well and truly back.
Rune left to rue Italian Open and Monte-Carlo opportunities
For Rune, this result will no doubt be viewed with great disappointment, as he had toppled defending champion Novak Djokovic en route to a second clay-court Masters 1000 final this season.
The overarching story of the tournament is hugely positive for Rune, despite the disappointing finish. At 20 years old, he is already a leading contender at the biggest tournaments. He will enter Roland-Garros as one of the leading challengers for the title.
Prior to this tournament, Medvedev would not have been mentioned in the conversation around favourites for the French Open. This fortnight has shifted the dynamics significantly.
While he will be keen to play down his chances, this extraordinary player has sent a strong message to rest of the Roland-Garros field.
Medvedev is a threat on clay courts. When he is at his best, there is not a title on the tour that the Russian is not capable of winning.
