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.

Casper Ruud was left stunned by Jannik Sinner ’s performance in the World No 1’s 6-0 6-1 victory against him in the Italian Open quarter-finals. Ruud came into the match in-form after winning the Madrid Open but home favourite Sinner dismantled the Norwegian in just 63 minutes.

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman in more than a decade to reach the final of her home Italian Open when she beat American Peyton Stearns 7-5 6-1 on Thursday. Paolini is the first Italian to advance to the final in Rome since her doubles partner Sara Errani lost to Serena Williams in 2014.