VATICAN CITY (AP) — In a delightful twist, Pope Leo XIV and tennis sensation Jannik Sinner have cultivated an unexpectedly friendly connection.
On Wednesday, just before the Italian Open, Sinner dropped by the Vatican, bringing along a tennis racket and proposing a match with the pontiff, as shared in an official Vatican announcement.
Pope Leo, who holds the distinction of being the first pope from America, is an avid fan and player of tennis himself. Earlier in the week, he humorously tossed around the idea of hosting a charity match when a journalist brought it up, jokingly saying, “but we can’t invite Sinner,” playing on the English connotation of the player’s last name.
Expressing his excitement about the pope’s passion for the sport, Sinner noted that this kind of high-profile backing is indeed beneficial for tennis players.
The highly regarded athlete is gearing up to return to competition after a three-month suspension stemming from an inadvertent doping incident. Up next, he faces a crucial quarterfinal match on Thursday against either Casper Ruud, who recently claimed the title in Madrid, or Jaume Munar. With his sights set on victory, Sinner aims to become the first Italian man to win the prestigious Rome title since Adriano Panatta did so in 1976.
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