Jannik Sinner powered into the Italian Open semi-finals on Thursday with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 straight-sets win over Casper Ruud, while Coco Gauff edged past China’s Zheng Qinwen in a grueling three-set clash to reach the women’s final.
American Gauff will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in Saturday’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours.
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Sinner Overwhelms Formidable Ruud in Dominant Comeback Performance
Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in Madrid earlier this month.
In his previous matches, Sinner looked to be still finding his feet after his suspension, accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
But the 23-year-old demolished sixth seed Ruud in just over an hour with an ominous display of tennis, his domination such that the home fans at the packed centre court, seemingly out of sympathy, began to cheer the rare points that Ruud won.
Sinner’s Dominance Leaves Ruud Struggling, Sets Up Tough Semi-Final Challenge
“I felt great on court today. I think everyone saw that,” said Sinner.
“How I felt today shows very positive signs for me… I served and returned well. I moved great on the court, so I’m very happy about that.”
Ruud received the loudest cheer of the match when he held serve for the only time in the third game of the second set, raising his arms in ironic celebration.
“He covered every inch of the court… it felt like playing a wall that fires 100-mile-an-hour balls back at you constantly,” said a bewildered Ruud.
Tommy Paul, who defeated Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in the day’s first match, will likely wonder how he can challenge Sinner if the Italian maintains this level in Friday’s semi-final.
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