ROME (AP) 鈥 Maybe it was the pope鈥檚 blessing. Or maybe Jannik Sinner just likes playing against Casper Ruud.
Whatever it was, the top-ranked Sinner cranked up his level to near-perfection in a 6-0, 6-1 dismantling of Ruud in the quarterfinals on Thursday 鈥 a day after Sinner was granted a private audience with the new tennis-playing pope just down the road at the Vatican.
In his fourth match back after , Sinner blasted winners on the lines, finished off points with aggressive overhead smashes and never really let Ruud 鈥 one of the best clay-court players on tour 鈥 have a chance.
鈥淚 was feeling great on court today. I think we all saw that,鈥 Sinner said. 鈥淚 was trying to understand where my level is here in this tournament. 鈥 How I felt today was very, very positive signs for me.鈥
The seventh-ranked Ruud was coming off a title at the Madrid Open but in the first set he managed to win just seven points. The Norwegian dropped to 0-4 in his career against Sinner 鈥 and has never even taken a set off the Italian.
But then, nobody has taken a set off Sinner in his four matches in Rome 鈥 not bad for Sinner’s first tournament since he won his third Grand Slam title at the in January.
When Ruud finally won his only game early in the second set, he celebrated by raising both arms to the crowd and smiled. The match lasted 63 minutes.
Overall, Sinner won a whopping 55 of the 77 points, produced 22 winners to Ruud鈥檚 seven and had only 10 unforced errors to Ruud鈥檚 17.
鈥淚t鈥檚 as near as perfect that I witnessed,鈥 Ruud said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just immensely impressive. ... It was like playing a wall that shoots 100 mph balls at you all the time.鈥
When they met at the net to shake hands after the match, Ruud appeared to be laughing at the disparity in the contest.
鈥淵ou just look at the guy and say, 鈥楾his is kind of next-level (expletive),鈥欌 Ruud said. 鈥淚t was almost fun to witness at the same time.”
Sinner extended his winning streak to 25 matches, dating to October.
In February, Sinner agreed to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency that , since the three-month suspension conveniently allowed him not to miss any Grand Slam events and come back at his home tournament.
Rome is the last big warmup before the French Open starts on May 25.
Sinner is attempting to become the first Italian man to win the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Papal audience
Pope Leo XIV met with Sinner and the player鈥檚 parents on Wednesday.
鈥淚 never experienced something like this,鈥 Sinner said. 鈥淚 met important people in my young life. This was just something else. I was very honored and I appreciate that.鈥
Sinner to face Tommy Paul
In Friday鈥檚 semifinals, Sinner will play Tommy Paul, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 6-3 to become the fourth American in the Open Era to reach back-to-back semifinals in Rome after Eddie Dibbs (1978-79), Jim Courier (1992-93) and Pete Sampras (1993-94).
Paul also defeated Hurkacz in last year鈥檚 quarterfinals but then was beaten by Nicolas Jarry in the semifinals.
Sinner鈥檚 victory gives host Italy two players in the last four, since will face Carlos Alcaraz in the other semifinal.
Paolini in women’s final
Jasmine Paolini, another Italian, advanced to the women鈥檚 final.
Paolini saved three set points before gaining control in a 7-5, 6-1 win over American opponent Peyton Stearns to become the first Italian woman to reach the final in Rome since her doubles partner, Sara Errani, lost the 2014 championship match to Serena Williams.
鈥淲e have a great movement and I’m really honored to be part of it,鈥 Paolini said.
The last Italian woman to win the Italian Open was Raffaella Reggi, who took the 1985 title in Taranto.
In Saturday鈥檚 final, the fifth-ranked Paolini will face No. 3 Coco Gauff, who outlasted Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (4) on Thursday night.
Paolini and Errani have also advanced to the doubles semifinals. The pair won gold at the Paris Olympics last year, crowning a stretch when Paolini also reached the singles finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of Italy here in the Italian Open,鈥 Sinner said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be part of this.鈥
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