Jannik Sinner has audience with Pope Leo XIV
The Pontiff, who has in the past described himself as 'quite the amateur tennis player', declined to meet the 23-year-old on the court, joking, 'just don't bring Sinner'.
Leo was presented with a racket, proposing a potential match, which the newly elected catholic leader politely declined.
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Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Sinner streaks ahead as US Open defence looms
Defending champion Jannik Sinner has eased into the last 16 of the Cincinnati Open with an interrupted 6-2 7-6 (8-6) win over Canada's Gabriel Diallo as he gears up for his US Open title defence. Playing his first tournament since winning his fourth grand slam title at Wimbledon, world No.1 Sinner was made to battle in the second set as world No.35 Diallo held a set point at 6-5 in the tie-breaker. The start of Sinner's evening third-round match was delayed by an earlier 75-minute delay when the venue lost power and play was halted in the second game of the second set when a fire alarm in the 1899 club grandstand began to sound. But Sinner was able to extend his winning streak on hard courts to 22 matches as he advanced to a match up against French qualifier Adrian Mannarino, who overcame 13th seed Tommy Paul 5-7 6-3 6-4. "I feel like today was a very difficult day at the office," said reigning Australian Open champion Sinner. "He was serving very well, especially in the second set. Against big servers you always have to find the right balance at the back of the court. "Today I struggled a bit at times. But still very happy. I need these tough matches ... Getting used to very difficult situations. I'm very happy this happened before a grand slam. "I'm happy about today. Can I do things better? Yes. But not every day is the same. So I'm very, very happy." Sinner has not been beaten on hard courts since a defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the the Beijing final in October. Earlier, fourth seed Taylor Fritz defeated Italian Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 after the power outage delay. The 27-year-old American did not face a break point and capitalised on his lone break opportunity before serving out the match. In other matches, Benjamin Bonzi beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 6-4, 10th seed, Frances Tiafoe downed Ugo Humbert 6-4 6-4, seventh seed Holger Rune beat 28th seed Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 while Felix Auger-Aliassime and Terence Atmane also notches wins.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
Sinner back with a bang to serve it up in Cincinnati
Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP Defending champion Jannik Sinner showed no signs of rust after a one-month break as he cruised past Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in straight sets in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time). World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors. Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo. "It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes. "So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play." In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches. Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open. De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto. His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season. De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour. Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada. Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior. Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner. The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago. The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24. - with AAP
Perth Now
05-08-2025
- Perth Now
Finn Wolfhard gushes Pope Leo XIV is ‘cool'
Finn Wolfhard thinks Pope Leo XIV is 'cool'. The Stranger Things actor, 22, has been a familiar face on screen since his early teens and while navigating international fame continued to attend a local Catholic school during the show's early seasons rather than opting for homeschooling like many of his young co-stars. Now, with over a decade in the public eye, Finn said in a chat with Variety in which he reflectied on the intersection of faith, politics, anxiety and growing up in front of the world: 'Pope Leo XIV looks like a cool liberal guy who actually cares about people. 'I'm pretty agnostic now, but religion was a big part of my childhood.' Despite describing himself as politically active, Finn added he prefers to stay largely private when it comes to public discourse. He said: 'I am active in my personal life and try not to be in public. 'But I also know how that sounds in the sense of 'Everyone has a platform' and 'I should be more… '.' In particular, Finn identified two causes he is deeply committed to – Ukraine and Indigenous land rights. His father, an attorney, advocates for the latter. Finn added: 'I think the amount that the government gets away with, by just f****** over so many Indigenous groups. 'They have to fight the government to try to get money from them for stolen land – it's just insane.' Finn also supports Ukraine through monthly donations to United24, a fundraising platform launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Finn also opened up about how the challenges of fame were compounded by early-onset anxiety, which he says was formally diagnosed. 'Diagnosed, yeah,' he said. Finn added: 'Then I started seeing a therapist. It's something that's worked for me. I can either try to bury that stuff and just do project after project, not think about it, or be able to ask myself these questions.' Finn is currently single and describes his current focus as being firmly on his work. But when asked about his relationship status, he struggled to form a complete thought. He said: 'I'm single and like… I feel like that's something that I'm also kind of thinking about right now is just like… this is the time kind of where I have been doing the most work kind of in my life. 'So I feel like it's been kind of… maybe it's been subconsciously – what's the word? – deliberate?, to not have a committed partner. 'Just because I'm 22, I don't really want to put my… also considering how… at the rate that I'm traveling all the time and working and stuff, I just feel like it's not the time to do that.'
