Casper Ruud found it tough to raise his arms in celebration and hide his grin 46 minutes into what was one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the clay court season. Yet, Rood didn’t acknowledge the impressive set or a remarkable point. Instead, he humorously marked the first game that he won.
Giannik Sinner delivered a stunning performance under the lights in Rome, which was, really, the only highlight for him that night.
This win marked Sinner’s first time reaching the final four in his home country’s premier tournament. Remarkably, he has returned strong from his anti-doping suspension with two victories under his belt and will face 11th seed Tommy Paul on Friday.
“It was a great performance. I’m quite happy about it. But, you know, things can change quickly. Every day is different. Tomorrow’s a different opponent. We’ll play again in the evening, so it’s a whole new match,” Sinner remarked.
While most players rest a day before a significant match to conserve energy, Sinner had a packed Wednesday. He even met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and presented the newly elected clergy with a tennis racket.
“Amazing, honestly,” Sinner shared about his encounter with the Pope. “I’ve never experienced anything like this. I felt really honored. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say, and it was quite emotional with my parents there. A very good experience.”
Ruud, representing Sinner’s first opponent from the top ten, was the Madrid Open champion and was seen as the most informed player. However, that didn’t seem to matter much. “As a player, facing someone like him, what I saw was almost perfect, so I have to give him that,” said Ruud.
Sinner showcased an exceptional level right from the start. He struck the ball with precision and opened the match strongly. His backhand, which is naturally his best shot, was solid, but here he was in full control with his forehand. The sheer power and intensity of his strokes were overwhelmingly effective.
“When someone is playing well, it feels like you’re facing a forehand on one side and another on the backhand,” Ruud explained. “And in his case, he has a very good backhand too, so it’s like playing against two.” It felt like hitting a wall that keeps firing 100 mph balls at you.
This performance was near flawless. Sinner returned with surprising skill, blending delicate touches with raw power. Several times when Ruud seemed to control the points, Sinner quickly transitioned from defense to attack. By 3-0 and 30-30 in the first set, Sinner conceded just one point, while the Norwegians wrapped up the set with two service points. One impressive set would have been enough, but Sinner kept the pressure on until the end.
“I feel terrible,” Ruud admitted. “Honestly, I think I enjoyed it more than anything. I lost love, but you look at this guy and think, ‘Wow, this is on another level.’ Excuse my language.”
Sinner’s victory capped off an extraordinary 24 hours for Italian tennis, following eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti’s defeat of second seed Alexander Zverev, allowing him to join Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. Additionally, Jasmine Paolini, the sixth seed, made history as the first Italian woman to reach the final in Rome with a decisive 6-1 victory over Payton Stearns since Sara Errani in 2014.
