Or maybe Jannik Sinner just likes playing against Casper Ruud. Whatever it was, the top-ranked Sinner cranked up his level to near perfection at times in a 6-0, 6-1 dismantling of Ruud in the Italian Open quarterfinals — after Sinner was granted an audience with the new tennis-playing pope just down the road at the Vatican.

Jannik Sinner marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Wednesday after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 and sending a warning that the world number one is officially back.Late bloomer Paolini,

Jannik Sinner marched into the semifinals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, as Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China's Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women's final.