As the Italian Open reached its decisive stages, one of the most anticipated clashes will see Norway’s Casper Ruud take on home favorite and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals on May 15, 2025. The matchup promises high-quality tennis and a compelling storyline, with Sinner continuing his dominant season and Ruud looking to stage an upset. The match will take place at the Foro Italico in Rome, where Sinner is expected to have strong crowd support in his home country.
Casper Ruud, who has enjoyed a solid clay-court season so far, knows the magnitude of the task ahead. While the Norwegian has had success on the ATP Tour, facing Sinner on home soil, especially in such imperious form adds another layer of difficulty. Sinner has cruised through the early rounds in Rome without dropping a set and is showing no signs of fatigue or weakness. With the Italian currently sitting to top the ATP rankings and having won multiple titles this season, including his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, he enters the quarter-final as the clear favorite.
He's the best player in the world this year: Casper Rudd praises Jannik Sinner ahead of Italian Open quarter-final clash
Speaking ahead of the match, Casper Ruud did not shy away from praising his opponent. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the best player in the world this year,” he said. “He is deservedly the world No. 1, he is playing at home and he hasn’t dropped a set all week.” The respect between the two players is evident, but Ruud also highlighted the unique challenge of facing someone with Sinner’s game. “Every kind of groundstroke feels like rockets are thrown at you,” he added, underlining the relentless pace and precision Sinner brings to the court.
Ruud further elaborated on the psychological pressure of playing Sinner. “It’s stressful. For a split-second every time before you hit a shot you know, if I don’t get this right, I might be punished on the next shot,” he admitted. Yet, the Norwegian is not discouraged. Rather, he sees the quarter-final as an opportunity for growth. “He goes for his shots fully committed. Something I definitely can learn as well,” Ruud noted. Despite being the underdog, Ruud is expected to bring intensity and determination to the contest, knowing a win could redefine the trajectory of his 2025 season.
