(Photo credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images)

Top-seeded home favorite Jannik Sinner will clash with clay-court specialist Casper Ruud of Norway in Sunday's final at the Italian Open in Rome.

Sinner concluded his rain-delayed semifinal Saturday against No. 7 Daniil Medvedev of Russia, finishing off a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory in two hours and 37 minutes.

Sinner was leading 4-2 in the third set when rain halted play for the night on Friday. Returning to the court 18 hours later, the World No. 1 wrapped things up in just 15 minutes.

Sinner won his service game at love to take a 5-3 lead and had two match points before Medvedev held serve. Sinner served out the match and returned to the ATP 1000 tournament final, where he lost to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in 2025.

'It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge,' Sinner said. 'Usually, during the night, I don't struggle to sleep but this time it was not easy. You are in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again and you never know what is happening. It is like the start of the match as there are nerves again. I am very happy with how I handled this situation and that I back in the final.'

Sinner, 24, is one win away from completing a career Golden Masters. Only Serbia's Novak Djokovic has won all nine Masters 1000-level titles on the ATP Tour. Sinner extended his record Masters 1000 winning streak to 33 matches.

Sinner recorded seven aces, saved five of seven break points and finished with a 39-23 advantage in winners against Medvedev, who had seven double faults and 37 unforced errors to Sinner's 30.

Sinner is bidding to become the first home champion at the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta lifted the trophy in 1976.

Sinner improved to 10-7 against Medvedev. He is 4-0 against Ruud.

Ruud, the No. 23 seed, booked his spot in the final with a 6-1, 6-1 win in 65 minutes against Italy's Luciano Darderi on Friday.

--Field Level Media