The Russian Daniil Medvedev first semifinalist at the Rome Internationals

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The Russian Daniil Medvedev hits the semifinal at the Internazionali Bnl d’Italia, which is taking place on the clay courts of the Foro Italico in Rome. The Russian, number 3 in the world and third seeded, defeats the German Yannick Hanfmann, number 101 in the ATP ranking and coming from the qualifiers, with a score of 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 21 minutes of play. The victory opens the doors to the semifinals of the Internationals for No. 3 in the ATP ranking, an excellent result, given that so far in his career the 27-year-old from Moscow had not yet won a single match in the Capitoline tournament. Daniil Medvedev awaits the winner of the last quarter-final, which will see the Croatian Borna Coric oppose the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

«I felt in training that I was playing better and better, it’s wonderful to have reached the semifinals. He played deep but I managed to handle his shots »explained Medvedev at the end of the game.

Nadal forfeits for Roland Garros

His victory came just as the news of Rafa Nadal’s certain forfeit in the next Roland Garros due to physical problems spread: «Bad news, but I’m happy to hear that he will try to come back. I heard him say that he doesn’t know when he will be back on the training ground, maybe next year. We would all like to see him return to the field to play: at least another couple of years until he decides to stop ».

The Muscovite, after the elimination of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, is now sure to take the lead in the Live Race, the ranking based on seasonal results which determines the eight qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals. To date in Turin, where the tournament will take place from 12 to 19 November, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune would in fact go.

Has he now become the favorite to win in Rome? «I don’t think – says Medvedev – With Rune, Ruud and Tsitsipas, who is probably one of the top three, four players in the last
year on clay. I certainly don’t put myself among the favourites, but if I can play well in the semifinal, I will give my opponent a hard time. I hope I can go even further and try to win two more games.”