Jannik Sinner, who is having a brilliant run at the Italian Open 2025, met the newly anointed Pope at the Vatican.
The ATP world number one, accompanied by his family the President of the Italian Tennis Federation, Alberto Binaghi, paid a visit to Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday.
Jannik Sinner Meet and Greet With Pope
It was one of the first private audiences held so far by Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as the worldwide head of the Catholic church on May 8th.
The three-time Grand Slam brought a racket and balls as gifts for the new Pope, who is a keen tennis player.
The 21-year-old also extended an invitation for a friendly match to which the Pope replied: “We might break something here, better not!
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In an interview in 2023, the Pope described himself as “quite the amateur tennis player”.
The air also filled with laughter as the chief of the Vatican playfully joked about a charity match, stating he would participate but warned, “we can’t invite Sinner,” cheekily implying the surname of the star tennis player.
“Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?” Sinner responded with a grin as his face reddened. “It’s wonderful for us players to know that the pope shares our passion for tennis,” he added, showing his appreciation.
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Jannik Sinner faces Casper Ruud in the men’s singles quarter-finals at the Italian Open on Thursday (15 May) and is attempting to become the first Italian man to win the ATP tournament in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Also Read: Who Is Jannik Sinner’s Rumoured Girlfriend Lara Lieto?
The Italian Open is the first ATP tournament that Sinner is playing in after completing his three-month doping ban.
Jannik Sinner is among the first notable personalities to meet Pope Leo XIV, and perhaps the very first elite athlete. The new pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, made history last Thursday as he became the first American to assume the papal mantle.
