Or maybe Jannik Sinner just likes playing against Casper Ruud. Whatever it was, the top-ranked Sinner cranked up his level to near perfection at times in a 6-0, 6-1 dismantling of Ruud in the Italian Open quarterfinals — after Sinner was granted an audience with the new tennis-playing pope just down the road at the Vatican.

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 at times in a 6-0, 6-1 dismantling of Ruud in the Italian Open quarterfinals on Thursday — a day after Sinner was granted an audience with the new tennis-playing pope just down the road at the Vatican.

Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, broke a record previously held by the Big Three, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, after his match at the Italian Open.

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong in his second match back on tour in front of his home crowd at the Italia

Pope Leo XIV has made peace with Jannik Sinner. The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play.

Tommy Paul set up a potential Italian Open semi-final with Jannik Sinner after beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Thursday to move into the last four in Rome.

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.

Carlos Alcaraz saved two break points early in the third set then dropped his serve later on to waste an early break before improving to 5-0 in his career against the 24th-ranked Karen Khachanov.