This is an archive article published on May 14, 2025
WATCH: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner meets ‘quite the amateur tennis player’ Pope Leo XIV
The Pope had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when a journalist suggested it. But at the time, he joked: “But we can’t invite Sinner,” in an apparent reference to the English meaning of Sinner’s last name.
Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner meets Pope Leo XIV during a private audience at the Vatican, May 14, 2025. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS
Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner had an audience on Wednesday with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, a self-confessed tennis fan and an amateur player. On his off day at the Italian Open that is currently underway in Rome, Sinner was invited to the Vatican along with his parents and a delegation from the Italian Tennis Federation.
According to Associated Press, this meeting comes not long after the new Pope joked about facing Sinner in an exhibition message. The Pope had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when a journalist suggested it. But at the time, he joked: “But we can’t invite Sinner.” It was an apparent reference to the English meaning of Sinner’s last name.
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In a video posted by the Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV and Sinner are seen exchanging a few quips. The former asked Sinner about his win on Tuesday and later joked about playing at the Wimbledon too. Sinner presented the pope with one of his tennis rackets, but the pontiff declined a suggestion that they knock a ball around, staring up at the lights in the reception room. “Better not,” he said, to laughter.
Pope Leo XIV receives professional tennis player Jannik Sinner in the Vatican and asks for some sporting tips.
The audience took place in the rooms attached to the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, and the Pope also met with Mr. Sinner’s family and the President of the Italian Tennis… pic.twitter.com/RoYTvivEyR
The pope, formerly known as US Cardinal Robert Prevost, described himself in a 2023 interview published by the website of his Augustinian religious order as “quite the amateur tennis player”. Sinner is taking part in the Italian Open tennis tournament, which is being staged a short distance from the Vatican, coming back from a three-month doping ban.
He blushed when asked during a news conference on Monday about the pope’s comments and buried his head in his hands. “Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?” he said, before adding: “Obviously I heard that he played as a kid. I think it’s a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we’re playing.”
During the audience, Angelo Binaghi, the head of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, gave Leo an honorary federation card. On hand in the room was the Davis Cup trophy that Sinner helped Italy win for the second consecutive time last year. The announcement of the new Pope actually happened during live action at the Masters 1000 event at Foro Italico during home favourite Fabio Fognini’s match against Jacob Fearnley.
Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner meets Pope Leo XIV during a private audience at the Vatican, May 14, 2025. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS 
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