Daniil Medvedev said on Sunday that ending his long-standing clay court title jinx was almost equal to capturing the 2021 US Open. 

The Russian added a first clay trophy to his 19-title collection with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Holger Rune in the Italian Open final in Rome. It was his his fifth title of the season and sixth career Masters trophy. “In a way, it’s the number one career honour,” said the 27-year-old. “I would never [have] thought I would be able to make this. But I have to be honest—a Grand Slam is always bigger.” He added: “This one is special because I didn’t think it was going happen, I still kind of don’t believe—not that I won it, but I played so well this week.” Medvedev, who had been 0-3 in his three previous trips to the Italian capital, had knocked out 2017 champion Alexander Zverev and 2022 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way to Sunday’s final. “I didn’t think I could win a Masters 1000 on clay in my career because usually I hated it, I hated playing on it. I didn’t feel good on it and nothing was working.”