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.

Jannik Sinner stormed into the Rome Open semifinals, dropping just one game in a commanding performance against Casper Ruud.

ROME — Maybe it was the pope's blessing. Or maybe Jannik Sinner just likes playing against Casper Ruud.