Jannik Sinner among first to be granted an audience with Pope Leo as world No 1 shares joke with keen tennis fan during visit to the Vatican
Jannik Sinner has been given the welcome of a saint returning from the wilderness here in Rome, so it feels appropriate that he was among the first to be granted an audience with the new Pope.
The world No1, who is into the quarter-finals of his first event since his three-month anti-doping ban expired, made the brief trip from the Foro Italico to the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a keen tennis fan. In 2023 he said: 'I consider myself quite the amateur tennis player.'
Sinner presented the 69-year-old with a racket and, taking out a ball, suggested a hit. Glancing around the chandeliers and ornaments of the Vatican reception room, Leo XIV said: 'Not here.'
The Pope, conversing in fluent Italian, certainly held the racket like he knew what to do with it. And, gesturing at his all-white papal attire, he quipped that he would be permitted to play at Wimbledon.
It was all part of what has been a dream return to the sport for Sinner, in front of his adoring home fans. The 23-year-old claimed to have low expectations, given he had not played competitive tennis since the Australian Open, but he is into the last eight without dropping a set.
His last 16 victory against Francisco Cerundolo, who beat him in Rome in 2023, was highly impressive. 'Quarters, it's a great result, no?' he said after that win. 'Coming back, I just tried to put myself in the best possible position to see what's happening.
'I'm glad that today were so many difficult situations. That's exactly what I need to find my rhythm again, trying to find my mental strength again.
'For the first tournament, I'm very, very happy.'
On Thursday comes his biggest test yet, against Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud. But with a Papal blessing and the whole country behind his back, who would bet against him?
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