Daniil Medvedev produced a moment of brilliance just when he needed it most on Thursday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he battled past lucky loser Martin Landaluce 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 to set a semi-final showdown with Jannik Sinner.
Trailing by a break, 2-3, in the deciding set of his quarter-final against the 20-year-old Landaluce, Medvedev ripped a stunning backhand return winner to break serve and swing momentum back in his favour on Campo Centrale. The shot sparked a surge from the former World No. 1, who won five of the final seven games to return to the Rome semi-finals for the first time since lifting the ATP Masters 1000 trophy in the Italian capital in 2023.
Although he failed to convert his first three match points on return at 5-4 in the decider, Medvedev dug in for a dramatic victory, eventually crossing the line on his fourth attempt after two hours, 22 minutes. Medvedev’s reward for his hard-fought comeback is a semi-final clash against World No. 1 Sinner, who arrives riding a record 32-match Masters 1000 winning streak.
Sinner leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 9-7.
“He played unreal at the beginning,” Medvedev said of Landaluce. “If he plays like he did in the first set of every match, he will be Top 5 by the end of the year, in Turin… When you’re young, it’s tough to play a full match like this, so I just fought. I’m happy that I managed to seal the victory.”
Landaluce looked in complete control early on, producing a clinical opening set filled with crisp winners and well-executed drop shots to seize the advantage.
Although Medvedev gradually began striking the ball with greater authority from both wings and raised his level in the second set, the momentum appeared to shift back toward the Spaniard in the decider.
The 20-year-old reclaimed the initiative after Medvedev opened the third set with three costly double faults to surrender an early break. But just as Landaluce threatened to pull away, Medvedev found his spark. His stunning return winner in the sixth game reignited his challenge and shifted the dynamic of the contest.
Locked in from that point forward, Medvedev leaned on his experience to complete the comeback in a topsy turvy encounter that also featured a 14-minute rain delay in the second set.
Despite the defeat, Landaluce can reflect on another impressive week in a breakthrough 2026 season.
The Spaniard will leave Rome up 32 places to No. 62 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings after reaching his second quarter-final of the year, having also made the last eight in Miami.
With his victory — and his 50th tour-level win on clay — Medvedev secured his place in a 10th Masters 1000 semi-final and his second of the season after Indian Wells.
The 30-year-old has climbed to No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and could return to the Top 5 for the first time since January last year if he lifts the trophy in Rome.
[atptour.com]
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