ROME — Daniil Medvedev’s clay-court sport retains bettering.

First got here a run to the French Open quarterfinals in 2021. Then an look within the fourth spherical at Roland Garros a yr in the past.

Now, the third-ranked Russian is making large strides on the Italian Open.

Medvedev beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday to achieve the semifinals in Rome after dropping his opener in his three earlier appearances on the Foro Italico.

“I said before the tournament that I was feeling really great in practice,” Medvedev mentioned. “It’s always a danger to say this, because when you lose the first round you’re going to be, ‘Why did I say this?’ But I’m proving it. I feel great.”

On an overcast day, Medvedev managed play along with his flat groundstrokes and massive first serve to the tip the run of Hanfmann, who upset Monte Carlo Masters champion Andrey Rublev within the earlier spherical after additionally taking out ninth-seeded Taylor Fritz.

PHOTOS: Medvedev making extra progress on clay with Italian Open semifinal look

Medvedev has dropped just one set in 4 matches.

His semifinal opponent might be both Stefanos Tsitsipas or Borna Coric, who have been enjoying later.

Medvedev has lengthy been a menace on onerous courts, having received the 2021 U.S. Open and reached three different finals between the U.S. Open and Australian Open - which propelled him to the No. 1 rating. But he struggled with 4 consecutive first-round exits at Roland Garros from 2017-20.

This yr’s French Open begins in 10 days.

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