Jannik Sinner Aims for Finals After Dominant Win Over Casper Ruud

Rome, Italy — World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will face Tommy Paul in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday, May 16, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Sinner is coming off an impressive quarterfinal victory against Casper Ruud, where he won decisively 6-0, 6-1, solidifying his status as a top contender for the championship.

Sinner’s dominant performance shocked many, as Ruud was fresh off a title win at the Madrid Masters and was regarded as one of the top clay-court players. Sinner dominated the match, registering a remarkable Performance Rating of 9.62, nearly perfect according to TennisViz and Tennis Data Innovations. Sinner attributed his success to a well-planned strategy and exceptional focus.

“I felt great out there. I was just in the zone,” Sinner said after the match. He expressed eagerness to replicate that performance in the semifinals, especially in front of his home crowd. Playing in Italy adds extra motivation for Sinner, who hopes to secure his first major clay title.

Despite his overwhelming victory against Ruud, Sinner faces a formidable opponent in Tommy Paul. Ranked No. 12 in the world, Paul reached the semifinals by defeating Roberto Bautista Agut, Tomas Machac, Alex de Minaur, and Hubert Hurkacz, only dropping one set along the way.

Paul recognizes the challenge ahead of him but remains optimistic. “I’ve had some great matches here in Rome before. I know how to compete,” he stated. Historically, Sinner holds a 3-1 advantage over Paul in their head-to-head meetings, but their previous encounters have often been close.

Betting odds show Sinner as the clear favorite at -900, while Paul sits at +600. With Sinner’s strong form and Paul’s determination, this semifinal clash promises to be an exciting showdown. Should Sinner maintain his current level of play, predictions lean towards a straight-set victory for the Italian.

The match will be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel and the Tennis Channel App. Sinner aims to capitalize on his momentum and secure a spot in the finals, looking ahead to a possible future showdown against Carlos Alcaraz or Lorenzo Musetti.