Forty-six minutes into the match, Ruud finally won his first game. He raised his arms and smiled sarcastically — the only brief moment he could celebrate in an otherwise one-sided defeat.
Sinner, playing in front of a home crowd, showed why many consider him the best player in the world right now. The Italian dominated every aspect of the game, making a powerful statement as he continues his return from a three-month anti-doping suspension.
This win puts Sinner just two victories away from a historic title on home soil. He will face American 11th seed Tommy Paul in the semi-finals on Friday.
“It was a great performance,” Sinner said afterward. “But things change quickly. Every day is different. I’ll try to prepare the best I can for the next match.”
Sinner’s day off the court was just as busy. On Wednesday, he met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, gifting the new pope a tennis racket. That night, he attended Bologna’s win over Milan in the Coppa Italia final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
“It was amazing, honestly,” Sinner said about meeting the pope. “Very emotional, especially with my parents there. Something I’ll never forget.”
Ruud, the 2024 Madrid Open champion, was Sinner’s first top-10 opponent since his return. But the Norwegian had no answer to Sinner’s brilliance.
“It was nearly perfect,” Ruud admitted. “It was like playing a wall that hit the ball at 100mph every time.”
Sinner was unstoppable from the first point. His powerful forehand and precise backhand kept Ruud on the defensive. He also returned serve brilliantly and mixed power with soft touches when needed.
At one point in the first set, Sinner had allowed Ruud just one point in three games. The Norwegian managed only two points on serve during the entire set. Sinner’s level stayed high all the way through.
Despite the loss, Ruud remained impressed.
“Honestly, it was more fun than frustrating,” he said. “He was just playing next-level tennis. I was ready, but he was more than ready.”
Sinner’s dominant performance capped an exciting 24 hours for Italian tennis. Lorenzo Musetti upset second seed Alexander Zverev to reach the men’s semi-finals, joining Carlos Alcaraz in the final four. On the women’s side, Jasmine Paolini beat Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-1 to become the first Italian woman in a Rome final since 2014.
Related topics:
- Lions Aim to Make Ivy League History Against Top-Seeded Wake Forest
- Marist Tennis Stars Recognized for Academic and Athletic Excellence
- Jack Draper’s Impressive Clay Run Ends in Rome Quarterfinals Against Alcaraz
