Andre Agassi Says Jannik Sinner’s Performance Against Casper Ruud at the Italian Open “was a Thing of Beauty to Watch”
Jannik Sinner beat Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 to reach the semi-final of the Italian Open for the first time in his career.
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Jannik Sinner and Andre Agassi (X/The Tennis Letter/US Open)
Jannik Sinner played a near-perfect tennis tournament and beat Casper Ruud in straight sets in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open. While Ruud was expected to give the Italian a hard time, he was completely dismantled by the 23-year-old. Andre Agassi revealed after the match that the World No.1 “impressed the heck out” of him.
Sinner has played at the Italian Open as though he hasn’t been out of the ATP Tour for over three months. He’s yet to drop a set in Rome and has looked right at home at the Foro Italico. Against Ruud, he produced his best performance of the season and, for the first time, bageled a Top 10 opponent.
The Italian continued his dominance into the second set, hitting precise forehands and pushing Ruud to his baseline. In the end, he needed just an hour and five minutes to beat the Norwegian 6-0, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals.
Andre Agassi showered praise on Sinner after the match, revealing that the Australian Open champion was a joy to watch. He added that the Ruud couldn’t do anything to stop Sinner on Thursday (May 15) and felt sorry for him. He said via Tennis Channel:
Playing that well, against someone as dangerous and as effective as Ruud, on that surface? That happens maybe three times in a career. That was a thing of beauty to watch. There was not much Ruud could have hoped for out there. I feel bad for him, but he did take it in stride. Sinner is just a quintessential ball striker. To a guy like me, that goes straight to my heart… His controlled aggression impresses the heck out of me.
Sinner, the top seed, eased past Mariano Navone in the second round. He then continued with his form against Jesper De Jong in the third round. He overcame his biggest challenge against Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2), 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. He has now won 24 consecutive matches on Tour.
He will face Tommy Paul in the semi-finals. Paul reached the last four of the Italian Open for the second consecutive time after beating Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets. The American is hoping to make history at the competition and will be a very tough opponent for Sinner ahead of their meeting.
Andre Agassi is in awe of Jannik Sinner’s performance in Rome after his return from suspension
Jannik Sinner’s performance at the Italian Open has been surprising because of his return from suspension. The World No.1 accepted a three-month suspension as part of his settlement in his doping case from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). He tested positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in March.
Despite the Australian Open being his last competition before the Italian Open, he has played great tennis in Rome. Andre Agassi revealed during the aforementioned conversation that there’s no looking back for the Italian star after his win over Casper Ruud. Agassi added:
The thing that surprises me the most about three months away was always the movement stuff. But, when you can move as well as he does? It looked like he spent a few matches not really stressing, not pressing, watching the ball, tracking it and using his legs. Then, once he got comfortable that he could take some big blows, he started letting his game fly. And yeah, there’s no looking back for him. He’s where he’s at because he belongs there.
Sinner will now hope to win the Italian Open. The World No.1 is currently playing his best and increasing in confidence every match ahead of the French Open.
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