Tennis news: Jannik Sinner clinches title as Daniil Medvedev backs boycott

Jannik Sinner is a set and a break up in this second set. He's won five games in a row.

He leads 6-4, 2-0 and at this rate, it looks like he'll get this final done in straight sets.

A simple hold for Jannik Sinner and he wins the opening set in just 49 minutes.

It already looks like a long way back for Casper Ruud, even though he's been fairly close to his Italian rival for much of the contest so far.

A crucial break for Jannik Sinner in the ninth game of the opening set moves him to 5-4 after a tight start to the match.

He's now just one game away from drawing first blood and being halfway to victory.

Daniil Medvedev says he would support a Grand Slam boycott if it goes ahead with players frustrated with the share of tournament revenue they are receiving.

"Honestly, Jannik is the leader and the biggest star in tennis right now. As for my take, look naturally I represent the players, I am a player, so I support the players’ perspective," said Medvedev.

"Based on the data we have been given, it really feels like the Slams are underpaying the players and if that’s true, as Jannik rightly said, it’s not a question of money in his case nor mine, it’s about doing what’s right and respect.

"If the figures we have been given are accurate then we need to stand together on a united front, when players unite they can achieve anything."

Casper Ruud is two games up on Jannik Sinner, having broken the Italian in his first service game.

It's not the start that Sinner would have wanted, but there is still more than enough time to gain control of this opening set.

It won't be long until Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud are on the court for the Italian Open men's singles final.

Will it go the way of the home favourite? Or will his Norwegian rival spring a surprise and take the trophy for himself?

The match has been delayed from 4pm until 4.14pm because of how long the men's doubles final has just gone on.

Elina Svitolina won the Italian Open women's singles title for the third time yesterday, beating Coco Gauff in the final.

She prevailed in a decisive final set to secure a 6-4 6-7 6-2 triumph and lift the trophy once again.

Gauff was frustrated early on, nearly bursting into tears after striking herself with her racket.

She gathered herself to win a tightly-fought second set but was unable to stop Svitolina in the third.

Daniil Medvedev believes players should be allowed treatment for cramps during matches in a bid to minimise repeated stoppages in play.

He said: "I actually have a solution: allow physical, allow medical treatment for helps.

"Allow medical, meaning physio three minutes, when you have cramps.

"Then there's no problem because then a player could say: 'I have cramps, I need a physio'. For the moment, it's not allowed. I completely understand.

"Of course, if you start cramping - maybe he was not, I have no idea - what you do is you ask a physio and you say: 'I have a small pain in the leg'.

"Probably I did it as well in my career. If medical would be allowed for cramps, there would be no problem, so this is a solution."

Jannik Sinner has admitted that he has been struggling to sleep after battling with physical issues at the Italian Open.

The world's top-ranked player had to dig deep to beat Daniil Medvedev and will have to find another gear against Casper Ruud in today's final.

He played through exhaustion to get the job done in three sets and appeared to vomit on the court during one particularly gruelling moment.

It will be crucial for Sinner to ward off those issues against Ruud to stand the best chance of lifting the trophy in Rome this afternoon.

Click here to read article