Andre Agassi says what happened to Jannik Sinner at the Italian Open which he may only experience three times in his entire career

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Andre Agassi is thoroughly impressed by what Jannik Sinner has produced at the Italian Open.

It is clear to see that the 23-year-old could not wait to be back on tour following his three-month doping ban.

He appreciated the fact that his first tournament back on tour was in front of his home fans in Rome, and he has been very solid so far.

But Sinner’s quarter-final against Casper Ruud was the greatest example yet of why he is the number one player in the world and his quest for a maiden Italian Open title continues.

What did Andre Agassi say about Jannik Sinner’s performance at the Italian Open?

Jannik Sinner produced a masterclass against Ruud to reach the Italian Open semi-finals for the first time.

Ruud won just 32 per cent of his service points against Sinner and he did not hit his first winner until after 33 minutes of action.

Sinner dropped just one game in a near flawless victory against Ruud, and eight-time major winner Andre Agassi thinks this type of performance is extremely rare in a player’s career.

“You know what happens so rarely in tennis. Playing perfectly when you are not asked to. There are some classic matches in tennis where your opponent has to take you along to that kind of standard,” Agassi told Tennis Channel Live.

“To go out there and just start from front to end, runaway train, playing that well against someone as dangerous and effective as Ruud on that surface. That happens three times a career like that. That was a thing of beauty to watch.

“It did not help Ruud that there was not much breeze and the court was not playing dry or fast. It looked like it was just sitting there, which when you are timing the ball the way Sinner can, it just held up on the baseline or just inside that baseline.

“He is playing downhill from the first point and there is just no stopping it. He is bludgeoning the ball off both wings, both directions. He was directing all the traffic out there.”

Andre Agassi says how he felt about Casper Ruud after his loss to Jannik Sinner in Rome

Ruud won the biggest title of his career in Madrid before arriving for the Italian Open.

He was looking strong in Rome, but Sinner brought the Norwegian crashing back to earth following a special performance.

Sinner kept his unbeaten record against Ruud intact while the World number seven was left stunned by what his opponent produced.

As much as Agassi was impressed by Sinner’s level of play, he felt for Ruud, who had no answer for the Italian’s brilliance.

“Ruud has some nasty spin on his shots and can definitely put the ball in some uncomfortable spots,” Agassi began.

“But when you are hitting the ball like Sinner is and taking it that early, in conditions which are heavy and the ball is not going to get away from you – so he does not have to contain the power and can just let it fly, there was not much he could hope for out there.

“I feel bad for him but he did take it in good spirit and Sinner is just the quintessential ball striker, who for a guy like me goes straight to my heart.”