Danil Medvedev cruised past German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-2 to reach the semifinal at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome for the first first time in his career. Medvedev has advanced to the last four at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament on clay for the second time in his career following the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 1000 in 2019.
Medvedev converted six of his ten break points and saved four of the six chances he faced.
Medvedev earned a break at love in the first game. Hanfmann broke straight back after a double fault from Medvedev.
Medvedev earned his second break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and held serve at love in the fourth game. He earned two more break points in the fifth game with a drop shot winner. Medvedev converted his first break point to open up a 4-1 lead, as Hanfmann netted a forehand on the first break point.
Medvedev held serve after two deuces in the sixth game with a backhand crosscourt winner and served for the first set at 5-2.
Medvedev saved two break points with winners to close out the first set 6-2 in 36 minutes.
The Russian player earned another break at the start of the second set after a forehand error from Hanfmann.
Medvedev fended off break points in the second game to hold serve before breaking in the fifth game to open up a 4-1 lead after Hanfmann hit a loose forehand. Hanfmann earned his first break point with a forehand winner at the net. Medvedev earned three break points with a forehand winner in the seventh game and converted his second chance to race out to a 5-2 lead earning his chance to serve for the win. He sealed the win with a hold at 30 to set up a semifinal against the winner of the quarter final match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Borna Coric.
“I said before the tournament I was feeling really great in practice. It is always a danger to say this if you lose the first round and you think: ‘Why did I say this”. But I am feeling great. The transition from Grand Slam to center court was not easy. He was struggling more than me and I am happy with the win and being in the semifinals”, said Medvedev.
