Video - Sinner Received by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
Present in Rome for the season's final clay-court Masters 1000, Sinner has advanced to the quarterfinals. He will face Ruud for a spot in the semifinals.
While the return of the world number one made headlines in Italy, another event stirred the country's news cycle. Indeed, the election of the new Pope Leo XIV marked a major historical turning point, drawing the attention of many.
Moreover, to the delight of tennis fans, Robert Francis Prevost, the Pope's birth name, expressed his fondness for the sport and specifically mentioned the 22-year-old player, referencing his surname. The meeting did not take long to materialize, as the two men met this Wednesday, May 14, during a private audience.
Accompanied by his family and the president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, Angelo Binaghi, Sinner presented the trophies won by his country in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup to the head of the Vatican.
