Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev’s semifinal clash at the Italian Open on Friday turned into must-watch theater. After two intense sets, heavy rain arrived, forcing the match to be halted.
Chair umpire Aurelie Tourte initially decided to keep the players on the court despite the clay becoming slippery from the rain. Sinner repeatedly argued with Tourte, and fans of the Italian took to social media to express their frustration with the umpire for her decision to temporarily keep the match going.
One user wrote:
Yeah umpire says I don’t know. How can she have a job with this incompetence
Another user wrote:
Ridiculous. She should have stopped it immediately. Apart from the lines the balls would be wet, clay stuck to them. Where was the tournament referee?
Someone wrote:
Didn’t realise the umpire was on loan from the Ferrari pit wall
Someone commented:
That umpire always at the scene of crime.
One person wrote:
You tell me if a referee should give an answer like that.
The match ended up being halted as the rain intensified and the players walked off the court. It was later suspended for the night and will resume on Saturday.
Sinner started the match strongly and took the opening set 6-2. However, he experienced physical problems in the second set and lost it 7-5. He led 4-2 in the third set when play was suspended.
Jannik Sinner’s Medical Timeout Questioned by Daniil Medvedev During Italian Open SF
Jannik Sinner took a medical timeout in the third set for a leg problem, prompting an immediate protest from Daniil Medvedev, who felt the Italian was suffering from cramps. According to the ATP rules, players are not allowed to request a medical timeout for cramps.
Medvedev approached the umpire’s bench and strongly opposed Sinner’s request, but to no avail as the World No. 1 received treatment on his quads.
Sinner and Medvedev will resume their high-stakes showdown on Saturday at 3:00 PM local time, following which the women’s final between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina will take place.
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