‘Next Level S—’- Madrid Open Champion Bows Down to Jannik Sinner’s Supremacy in an Honest Confession at the Italian Open

“I don’t know what to expect from him this week — knowing him, he’ll probably come out and play incredibly well,” Jack Draper had said of Jannik Sinner ahead of his return. And true to the Brit’s prediction, the Italian stormed back onto center court in Rome with fire and finesse. The top seed ace crushed Mariano Navone, Jesper De Jong, and Francisco Cerundolo, all in straight sets, to book his spot in the Italian Open QF. His quarterfinal clash with Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud was billed as a blockbuster, but the 3-time GS champion dismantled the Norwegian with effortless brilliance. And following that, in a humble gesture, Ruud bowed down to Sinner’s supremacy, hailing the homegrown hero. Wondering what the Norwegian has said about the top seed?

The top seed Jannik Sinner delivered a dazzling performance in front of a packed home crowd in Rome yesterday, breezing past Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 to book his place in the SF of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. It was a statement win for the current AO winner, who extended his H2H record against Ruud to 4-0. Though Sinner had never dropped a set in their previous encounters, this was their 1st meeting on clay, Ruud’s favored surface, and the Norwegian was riding high after claiming his biggest career title in Madrid and notching a 9-match winning streak. But even that form wasn’t enough to stop Sinner’s relentless charge.

Sinner’s victory, coupled with Lorenzo Musetti’s SF berth, etched a slice of history for Italian tennis. For the 1st time in the Open Era, multiple Italian men have advanced to the SF in Rome. Even more impressively, it’s the 1st time in ATP Masters 1000 history, since the series was established in 1990, that 2 Italians have reached the SF of the same tournament. Sinner’s commanding win signals not only a personal triumph but a defining moment for Italian tennis, reigniting hopes of ending the country’s 49-year wait for a men’s singles champion in Rome.

For Ruud, the loss was sobering yet filled with admiration. Sinner broke his serve 6 times and never allowed the Norwegian to find a rhythm. Despite the scoreline, Ruud remained gracious in defeat. “It doesn’t feel so bad honestly,” he said after the match. “I think it was more fun than anything, even though I lost [0-6, 1-6]. You just look at the guy and say, ‘This is kind of next-level S—’ — excuse my language — but I don’t know what else to say. It was almost fun to witness at the same time.”

Ruud on his 6-0 6-1 loss to Jannik Sinner in Rome, ‘I think it was more fun than anything… you just look at the guy & say this is next level sh*t’

“Mentally what is it like feeling ineffective on the court, given that you’re one of the best players in the world yourself? Do… pic.twitter.com/5AR8S3advn

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 15, 2025

Ruud added further, “Of course, I wish it was a closer match. I wish I could have given the people and the fans a longer, closer match. I think that I was there ready to play, but he was just even readier. Every area of my good shots he matched with even better back. I couldn’t re-answer with a better shot. That was just the story of the match.” His words reflect both the frustration of being outplayed and the respect for the Italian’s exceptional form.

From the 1st point on Campo Centrale, Sinner struck the ball with authority, firing winners off both wings and dominating every exchange. He won 16 of the first 18 points, setting a blistering pace that never slowed, wrapping up the match in just 64 minutes. 

And while Ruud exits the tournament, Sinner continues his electric run after coming from a ban, determined to turn home-court energy into a historic triumph!

“I’m very happy about that”: Jannik Sinner on his Italian Open form

Thursday evening’s QF at the Foro Italico began with a statement of intent from Jannik Sinner. In the opening game, with Casper Ruud serving, Sinner outlasted the 6th seed in a pair of punishing baseline rallies before sealing three break points with a brilliantly angled winner off a net cord. He broke the Norwegian to love and never looked back. From there, the top seed took full command, delivering his 1st-ever 6-0 set against a top 10 opponent, showcasing groundstrokes that were sharp even by his elite standards.

Sinner’s relentless pressure gave Ruud little room to respond. The Norwegian didn’t register his 1st winner until 33 minutes into the match, already deep into the 2nd set. Although Ruud managed to save two break points to hold for 1-2 and cheekily raised his arms to the crowd in mock celebration, it was a brief respite. Sinner quickly resumed his dominance, stringing together 4 straight games to seal the emphatic win, converting 6 of his nine break-point opportunities.

Reflecting on his performance, Sinner later shared, “I was feeling great on the court today. I think we all saw that. My goal was to try to understand where my level is at this tournament. It raised day by day, so I’m very happy about that. The result doesn’t really matter, but I felt today was a very positive sign for me.”

He also emphasized his physical sharpness: “Everything can change in one day. It’s not that one performance can tell everything about my shape now, but I’m very happy. I think today everything worked very well. I was serving well, also returning well, and moving great on the court.”

Up next, the Italian faces 11th seed Tommy Paul, whom he leads 3-1 in their H2H. With the top seed’s current momentum, fans are eagerly watching to see if he can secure his spot in the final. Who are you rooting for between the two?

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