The rain and a reborn Medvedev halt an imperial Landaluce

Andrés Tomás Rico | 14 May 2026 | 21.55

Rain and a resurgent Medvedev stop an imperial Landaluce. Photo: Gettyimages

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With great honor, Martín Landaluce says farewell to the ATP Rome 2026. The Spaniard played an almost perfect match from start to finish. However, he faced Daniil Medvedev, who once again showed his best version on his 'worst' surface and dealt with treacherous rain that disrupted Landaluce's rhythm as he was on his way to his first Masters 1000 semifinal. Despite this, he fought like a champion in the third set, but Medvedev's experience and resilience prevailed, securing a victory of 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 and setting up a meeting with Jannik Sinner in the penultimate round.

Martín Landaluce had a golden opportunity to redeem himself from the quarterfinals in Miami, where he could not show his best against Jiri Lehecka. This time, he faced Daniil Medvedev, who, despite his dislike for clay courts, tends to perform better in Rome.

The intense battle between Daniil Medvedev and Martín Landaluce in the ATP Rome 2026 quarterfinals

After entering as a lucky loser, the Madrid native understood that this 'gift' had to be well utilized, and since entering the main draw, he has not dropped a single set. This was his welcoming card, as he made it clear from the start, attacking every ball and quickly taking a 3-0 lead in just 10 minutes.

Medvedev was caught off guard, coming out more conservatively, while Landaluce dominated. His forehand was flowing, his backhand was effective, his serve was on point (winning 85% of points with his first serve), and drop shots were executed perfectly. Everything was going smoothly, resulting in an astonishing 5-0 lead in 17 minutes.

Medvedev was a toy in Landaluce's hands

The match was unfolding rapidly, with Medvedev seemingly still in the locker room, while Landaluce displayed determination and a clear goal: to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal. The Russian was already thinking about the second set, and the Spaniard claimed the first set convincingly with 6-1 in 27 minutes.

The stands at the Campo Centrale del Foro Itálico were astonished by Landaluce's rapid start and Medvedev's erratic play. Fans anticipated a closer match, but the Madrid native was not there to entertain; he was there to win decisively.

As expected, the Muscovite raised his game to avoid humiliation in Rome and sought support from the crowd. Meanwhile, Landaluce maintained his focus, relying on his strong serve and forehand. Medvedev's game started to falter, and he managed to break to make it 3-1. Nonetheless, the Spaniard remained unfazed, sticking to his game plan. Sensing that it was his day, he thwarted any rebellion from Medvedev by breaking back.

A fifteen-minute rain delay cooled off the Spaniard and boosted the Russian

Everything was going smoothly until the rain, the main protagonist of the week, made an appearance, pausing the match for twenty minutes. This interruption did not disturb Landaluce, who leveled the score to 3-3. However, the break seemed to favor Medvedev, who returned aggressively and managed to break the Spaniard's serve in the following game. Even though he served to close out the set, Landaluce was not willing to let external factors like rain disrupt his plans. He fought back, breaking Medvedev's serve. But when serving to make it 5-5, the Muscovite capitalized and claimed the second set (6-4), a set that might have had a different outcome had it not been for the rain.

The match would be decided in a third set where the balance of power had shifted. The Madrid native had not faltered, showcasing his skills and resilience, but Medvedev's experience proved vital in crucial moments of the second set. Nevertheless, Landaluce's remarkable tennis performance continued.

An intense third set

Landule capitalized on two consecutive double faults from the Russian to take an early lead in the final set (2-0), showing he was very much in the game. His coach, Óscar Burrieza, urged him on, aware that the match was firmly in his grasp.

The challenge was facing a former World No. 1 who had overcome the setbacks of the first set, seized the opportunity presented by the rain in the second set, and was now solidly established in the third set. Medvedev pushed hard to recover lost ground, breaking back to level what was already an outstanding match.

Despite the pressure of playing on the central court of a Masters 1000 and against a formidable opponent, Landaluce remained composed and determined at his young age of 20, especially after saving three break points when trailing 4-3. Regardless of the final result, the mental, physical, and tennis maturity shown by the Madrid native was commendable.

Finesse from Landaluce ✨ #IBI26 pic.twitter.com/sWK0rtqLB4
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 14, 2026

The match hung in the balance, teetering on the edge. A misstep could be devastating, and both players were well aware of it. Yet, neither conceded anything, extending rallies and games, keeping the score level until the end. Landaluce saved three match points, showing incredible strength and previously unseen confidence, resulting in a thrilling 5-5 for the ecstatic crowd.

It was undeniably Landaluce's day, but Medvedev's resilience, both on the court and mentally, resembled the best Daniil Medvedev. Not only did he save a break point that could have sealed the match, but he also capitalized on Landaluce's doubts when serving to force a tiebreak, sensing victory and clinching an incredible match 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. Tennis was harsh to Martín Landaluce this time, but with the performance shown in Rome, his first Masters 1000 semifinal is within reach.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La lluvia y un renacido Medvedev frenan a un imperial Landaluce