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

The ace from Sesto Pusteria has always defeated the Norwegian player in official matches, but they have never faced each other on red clay and Ruud is back to play his best tennis as evidenced by his triumph at the Mutua Madrid Open a short time ago.

Jannik Sinner returned from his three-month doping ban on Saturday, beating Mariano Navone in straight sets before a supportive home crowd at the Italian Open.