Sinner comeback gathers relentless pace in 'near-perfect' rout of Ruud

World No 1 reaches Italian Open semi-finals for first time with 6-0, 6-1 demolition

- Tumaini Carayol

Forty-six minutes into one of the most highly anticipated matches of the clay-court season, Casper Ruud triumphantly raised both hands to the sky and struggled to suppress a smile. Ruud, however, was not cheering the completion of a successful set or even a singular, spectacular point; he was commemorating sarcastically the very first game he had won.

It was the only thing Ruud had to cheer all night as Jannik Sinner pieced together a remarkable statement performance under the lights in Rome, underlining his enduring status as the best player in the world by completely demolishing Ruud, the sixth seed, 6-0, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open.

This victory marks the first time that Sinner has ever reached the last four at the biggest tournament in his home country and he is now two wins away from what would be a remarkable title on his return from a three-month anti-doping suspension. He will face Tommy Paul, the 11th seed, today for a place in the final.

"It was a great performance," Sinner said. "Very happy about that. But things can change quickly, no? Every day is different. Tomorrow is a different opponent. We play again in the night. But still it's a different matchup. I always try to prepare myself in the best possible way."