World No. 1 Jannik Sinner commented on his commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters.
When asked how close he felt to achieving perfection in his performance that evening, Sinner replied that it`s difficult to pinpoint, but he felt exceptionally good on court, believing this was clear to observers. He stated that his primary goal for the tournament is to understand his current level, noting that his game has shown daily improvement, which he is very pleased with. Sinner emphasized that for him, the feeling during play is more significant than the final result, describing today`s performance as a very positive indicator. While acknowledging the rapid shifts possible in sports and that a single match doesn`t fully define form, he expressed great satisfaction with how everything functioned: his serve, return game, and court movement. He added that he is looking forward to his upcoming semifinal match.
Questioned about his ability to effectively transition defense into attack, particularly against a strong opponent like the recent Madrid champion (Ruud), Sinner remarked that every player encounters opponents who present slightly greater challenges. He explained that he attempted to apply tactics previously effective against Ruud, adapting them for the different court surface. He felt he struck the ball very well throughout the match. Sinner also suggested that the evening playing conditions were slightly more favorable to him against Casper, potentially limiting the effectiveness of Ruud`s heavy topspin. He conceded that some elements of luck were involved today, citing net cords and balls landing precisely on the lines. However, he underscored how quickly the momentum of any match can change, using a critical serve at 2-1 as an example that could have dramatically altered the scoreline had it gone differently. He concluded by stating he was happy with how he handled such pivotal moments during the match, as conveyed in his on-court interview.
With this victory, Jannik Sinner also matched a significant achievement previously held by the `Big Four` in tennis.
