Lorenzo Musetti beats Daniil Medvedev after Rome downpour forces suspension on match point

Lorenzo Musetti beat Daniil Medvedev at the Italian Open in unusual circumstances after their clash was suspended on match point after a torrential downpour in Rome.

Home favourite Musetti was one game away from the match at 7-5 5-4 and served at 30-30 as the heavens opened and the rain started to fall.

In extraordinary scenes, Musetti and Medvedev continued playing through the rain, and the Italian won the point with a drop shot that died on the wet clay.

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It gave Musetti match point, but the umpire announced that play had been suspended with the surface becoming sodden and slippy underfoot.

The 23-year-old Musetti resumed at 7-5 5-4 40-30 requiring just one more point to reach the Italian Open quarter-finals for the first time, and duly delivered, winning a 13-stroke rally to record a win over Medvedev for the first time.

He will play the winner of the match between defending champion Alexander Zverev and Arthur Fils, who play later on Tuesday.

Earlier, Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to reach the Italian Open semi-finals since her doubles partner Sara Errani in 2014.

Paolini, the French Open and Wimbledon runner-up, recovered from 6-7 0-4 down against Daria Schneider, winning in three sets.

The rain delay meant World No1 Jannik Sinner also endured a lengthy wait before his match against the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.