By Hasini Vijay Inbasri

Getty Images: Italy’s Jannik Sinner has won his past 24 matches

Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one tennis player, had a special meeting with Pope Leo XIV on May 14, 2025, while he was in Rome for the Italian Open. Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam champion, hopes to become the first Italian man to win the prestigious Rome title since 1976.

During their meeting at the Vatican, Sinner brought one of his tennis rackets and gave the Pope another racket as well as a tennis ball. He playfully suggested they have a quick game right there in the Vatican. But Pope Leo, who is known for his love of tennis, looked around the room filled with valuable antiques and decided it might not be the best idea, saying, “Better not.”

Pope Leo XIV, who is the first American pope, had earlier joked that they couldn’t invite Sinner to play a charity match, referencing Sinner’s last name. However, it seemed like any awkwardness was forgotten during their friendly encounter. “It’s an honor,” Sinner said in Italian as he and his parents arrived to meet the Pope. He shared that the start of the Italian Open had been challenging for him, but he felt more in the game now as he prepared for his next match.

Sinner is set to play in the quarterfinal round of the tournament and is looking to make history as the first Italian to win in Rome since 1976. He recently returned to the court after a three-month suspension due to a doping case that was deemed unintentional. During the meeting, the head of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, Angelo Binaghi, presented Pope Leo with an honorary membership card. He noted how much the pope’s passion for tennis inspires everyone in the sport and expressed hope that they could meet again, perhaps on a tennis court.

Sinner and the Pope took pictures together in front of the Davis Cup trophy, which Sinner helped Italy win last year, along with the Billie Jean King Cup trophy displayed in the room, which Italy won in 2024. Earlier in the week, Sinner mentioned that it’s great for tennis players to have a pope who enjoys their sport. Besides tennis, Pope Leo is also a fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, while his predecessor, Pope Francis, was a supporter of a soccer team in Buenos Aires.