Jannik Sinner cranks up his game to near-perfection in rout of Casper Ruud at Italian Open

ROME — Maybe it was the pope's 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 Italian Open quarterfinals on Thursday — 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 a three-month doping ban, Sinner blasted winners on the lines, finished off points with aggressive overhead smashes and never really let Ruud — one of the best clay-court players on tour — have a chance.

''I was feeling great on court today. I think we all saw that,'' Sinner said. ''I was trying to understand where my level is here in this tournament. … How I felt today was very, very positive signs for me.''

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 — 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 — not bad for Sinner's first tournament since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open 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's seven and had only 10 unforced errors to Ruud's 17.

''It's as near as perfect that I witnessed,'' Ruud said. ''It's just immensely impressive. ... It was like playing a wall that shoots 100 mph balls at you all the time.''

When they met at the net to shake hands after the match, Ruud appeared to be laughing at the disparity in the contest.

''You just look at the guy and say, ‘This is kind of next-level (expletive),''' Ruud said. ''It 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 raised some questions, 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's parents on Wednesday.

''I never experienced something like this,'' Sinner said. ''I met important people in my young life. This was just something else. I was very honored and I appreciate that.''

Sinner to face Tommy Paul

In Friday's 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's quarterfinals but then was beaten by Nicolas Jarry in the semifinals.

Sinner's victory gives host Italy two players in the last four, since Lorenzo Musetti will face Carlos Alcaraz in the other semifinal.

Paolini in women's final

Jasmine Paolini, another Italian, advanced to the women's 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.

''We have a great movement and I'm really honored to be part of it,'' Paolini said.

The last Italian woman to win the Italian Open was Raffaella Reggi, who took the 1985 title in Taranto.

In Saturday's 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.

''There's a lot of Italy here in the Italian Open,'' Sinner said. ''It's nice to be part of this.''

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis