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

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 along 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, a minimum of not behind the web. Requested by a journalist if he would participate in a charity match, Leo appeared up for it, however cautioned: “Simply do not carry Sinner,” making a Catholic pun concerning 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. “Higher not,” he stated, to laughter.

The pope, previously referred to as US Cardinal Robert Prevost, described himself in a 2023 interview printed by the web site of his Augustinian non secular order as “fairly the newbie tennis participant”.

Sinner is collaborating within the Italian Open tennis event, 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 concerning the pope’s feedback and buried his head in his palms.

“Why do you need to put me in a tough spot?” he stated, earlier than including: “Clearly I heard that he performed as a child. I believe it is a good factor for us tennis gamers to have a pope who likes this sport that we’re enjoying.”

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)