Jannik Sinner Meets Pope Leo XIV After Italian Open Match

Jannik Sinner's Vatican Visit
Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked tennis player from Italy, took a break from the Italian Open on Wednesday to visit Vatican City, where he had an audience with Pope Leo XIV.
Accompanied by his parents, Johann and Siglinde, as well as his manager Alex Vittur and a group from the Italian Tennis Federation led by president Angelo Binaghi, Sinner engaged in a memorable meeting with the newly elected Pope.
During their interaction, the 23-year-old gifted Pope Leo XIV one of his tennis racquets. In a video shared on Instagram by Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the Pope inquired about Sinner's recent match against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo, to which Sinner responded affirmatively, saying, 'Yes, we managed.'
After receiving the racquet, the Pope humorously asked, 'Could I play at Wimbledon?'
Pope Leo XIV's Election
Just last Thursday, the Vatican conclave elected Robert Prevost as the new Pope, marking a historic moment as he became the first American to hold this position. The Cardinals convened in the Sistine Chapel to elect the 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who chose the name Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced the news to the public from the St. Peter's balcony, proclaiming, 'Habemus Papam!' which translates to 'We have a pope.'
Sinner's Performance in the Italian Open
Looking ahead, Sinner is eager to maintain his impressive performance in the Italian Open as he prepares to face Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals on Thursday. He advanced to this stage after defeating Cerundolo with a score of 7-6(2), 6-3.
'He's a very tough competitor, and it's a great challenge for me. I'm trying to adapt to various difficult situations on the court. I focused on staying mentally strong and playing each point. I'm pleased with my performance as I felt I improved my game. The conditions were challenging, and it was a long day, but the crowd's support was invaluable,' Sinner remarked following his victory, as reported by ATP.