World No. 1 Jannik Sinner Meets Tennis Fan Pope Leo XIV, Presents Him Tennis Racket

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner had an viewers on Wednesday with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, himself a eager tennis participant, the Vatican stated. Sinner was invited to the Vatican alongside together with his dad and mom and a delegation from the Italian Tennis Federation. Leo joked earlier this week that he did not need to meet the world primary, not less than not behind the online. Asked by a journalist if he would participate in a charity match, Leo appeared up for it, however cautioned: “Just don’t bring Sinner,” making a Catholic pun in regards to the final identify of the tennis star.

Sinner introduced the pope with considered one of his tennis rackets, however the pontiff declined a suggestion that they knock a ball round, staring up on the lights within the reception room. “Better not,” he stated, to laughter.

The pope, previously often called US Cardinal Robert Prevost, described himself in a 2023 interview printed by the web site of his Augustinian spiritual order as “quite the amateur tennis player”.

Sinner is participating within the Italian Open tennis match, which is being staged a brief distance from the Vatican, getting back from a three-month doping ban.

He blushed when requested throughout a information convention on Monday in regards to the pope’s feedback and buried his head in his arms.

“Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?” he stated, earlier than including: “Obviously I heard that he played as a kid. I think it’s a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we’re playing.”

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