Eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi believes Jannik Sinner is firmly back on track following his dominant performance at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Speaking on Tennis Channel Live with Steve Weissman and Jim Courier, Agassi expressed his admiration for the world No. 1 after the Italian's blistering quarterfinal victory over Casper Ruud.
Sinner, who returned to action only recently following a three-month suspension due to a doping case, showed no signs of rust as he dismantled Ruud 6-0, 6-1 on Rome’s Campo Centrale.
“Playing that well, against someone as dangerous and as effective as Ruud, on that surface? That happens maybe three times in a career,” said Agassi from his home in Las Vegas. “That was a thing of beauty to watch.”
Sinner Shows No Mercy Against Ruud
Top-seeded Sinner delivered a clinical performance in just 65 minutes, not facing a single break point while delivering his first career “bagel” against a Top 10 opponent. Agassi, who is set to take over as Team World captain at the Laver Cup, described the showing as that of a “runaway train.”
“There was not much Ruud could have hoped for out there. I feel bad for him, but he did take it in stride,” Agassi remarked.
“Sinner is just a quintessential ball striker. To a guy like me, that goes straight to my heart… His controlled aggression impresses the heck out of me.”
Return From Suspension Makes Feat More Impressive
Sinner’s road back has been anything but easy. After testing positive twice in 2024 for the banned substance clostebol, he accepted a three-month suspension, though WADA eventually cleared him of any fault or negligence. During his time off, the Italian wasn’t allowed to train with ranked players or use official sports facilities until April 13.
Yet his comeback has been remarkable. Speaking about the difficulty of regaining form after a layoff, Agassi shared his own experiences.
“The thing that surprises me the most about three months away was always the movement stuff. For me, it was always the return, it was always the reaction to the ball,” he explained.
“But, when you can move as well as he does? It looked like he spent a few matches not really stressing, not pressing, watching the ball, tracking it and using his legs. Then, once he got comfortable that he could take some big blows, he started letting his game fly.
“And yeah, there’s no looking back for him. He’s where he’s at because he belongs there.”
Unbeaten Streak Continues for Sinner
Sinner has now won 25 matches in a row, joining an elite group that includes Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray to achieve such a feat. This year, he’s yet to lose a match, having already lifted the Australian Open trophy in January.
In Rome, he has stormed past Mariano Navone, Jesper de Jong, and Francisco Cerundolo, without dropping a set. His most recent win against Ruud further cements his return to form, and next up, he faces Tommy Paul for a spot in the semifinals.
Sinner’s resurgence is not just a comeback—it’s a statement. And if Agassi’s words are anything to go by, the 22-year-old Italian isn’t just back—he’s better than ever.