Pope Leo XIV’s recent election has captured attention worldwide. Following the passing of Pope Francis, the Vatican convened a conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. With the appointment of Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, tennis has unexpectedly entered the spotlight, as he revealed his enthusiasm for the sport and his experience playing it.
While Pope Francis was widely known for his love of soccer, particularly as a devoted San Lorenzo supporter in Argentina, Pope Leo XIV is shifting the focus to tennis. Though tennis has always enjoyed global popularity, the new Pope’s personal connection could give the sport a unique boost among Catholic followers.
During a recent meeting with the media, the newly elected Pope shared that he would love to play tennis again and even floated the idea of a charity match. However, he jokingly added that there’s one player he’d prefer not to face.
“I would only accept a charity matchup, as I must clarify that I don’t play very well,” Pope Leo XIV said with a smile. “But I’d like to play against someone other than Jannik Sinner.”
Jannik Sinner, tennis player.
Sinner reacts to Pope Leo XIV’s interest in tennis
During a recent press conference, Jannik Sinner was asked about Pope Leo XIV’s reported interest in tennis. Although he seemed hesitant to elaborate, Sinner shared his thoughts on the potential impact of such high-profile attention on the sport’s popularity.
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“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,” Sinner told the media. When asked if he would be open to playing against Pope Leo XIV, he replied, “For the future we’ll see. Who knows.”
Sinner returns to action at Italian Open
After a three-month absence from the ATP Tour due to a doping suspension, Jannik Sinner returned to competitive play at the Italian Open. He secured a straight-sets victory over Mariano Navone in the Round of 64 and followed it up with another two-set win against Jesper de Jong on Monday.
With those wins, Sinner is now set to face Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. Cerundolo has shown strong form throughout the current season.
If Sinner advances to the quarterfinals, he could face Norway’s Casper Ruud, the recent Madrid Open champion. That potential clash would be one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament, just ahead of the French Open.
