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Jannik Sinner met US-born pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, donning a sombre black suit for his day-off visit to the Vatican just days after selection on the latest pontiff.
The Pope, a tennis fan who also plays when possible, appeared pleased to greet Italy’s world No. 1 who is set for a Rome Masters semi-final on Thursday against Norway’s Casper Ruud, who booked his spot 6-3, 6-4 at the Foro Italico over Jaume Munar.
Sinner, from Italy’s northern German-speaking Alto Adige autonomous province, had plenty to talk about with the sports-mad Pope, who had joked earlier with media about not bringing a “sinner” to the Vatican for a hypothetical charity match..
The player was accompanied in the papal audience by his family and Italian tennis bosses along with the actual Davis Cup “salad bowl” trophy currently held by Italy..Italian media reported that Leo XIV asked:”Could I play at Wimbledon?” during their light-hearted chat, with Sinner handing the pontiff a tennis ball by way of reply.
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner meets with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican – by Vatican Pool
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