By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The day after advancing to the semi-finals of the Italian Open, Jannik Sinner paid a visit to a fan.
While in Rome for the tournament May 14, the world’s highest-ranked tennis player walked into the halls of the Vatican and met with Pope Leo XIV, who proved to be a well-informed spectator of the young champion.
“Last night you won,” the pope said while shaking his hand, referencing the Italian’s straight-sets victory over 17th-seeded Francisco Cerùndolo — 7-6, 6-3 in just over two hours.
Sinner presented the pope with a custom-made white tennis racket, matching the papal cassock. Pope Leo, clearly enjoying the moment, gestured to his white cassock and quipped that Wimbledon would let him play — referencing the tournament’s famous all-white dress code.
The encounter took a playful turn when Sinner, holding up a tennis ball, asked the pope if he wanted to play.
“Here we’ll break something,” the pope responded with a laugh, looking around at the room’s antique furniture. “Better not.”
Before posing for photos with Sinner’s parents and the Italian Open trophy, the two discussed the tournament — Sinner’s first after a three-month break.
“Now we’re in the game,” Sinner told the pope, acknowledging a shaky start. “With three games (gone), we’ve gotten a bit of rhythm.”
Meeting the press after the game May 12, Sinner responded to news that the new pope was a tennis fan.
“I think it’s a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we’re playing,” he said.
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