Meeting in the Vatican
New Pope Leo XIV. Sinner welcomes after doping return
14.05.2025 – 2:25 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Tennis star Jannik Sinner returns from his doping lock to the Masters tournament in Rome. He was received by the Pope.
A special guest in the Vatican: Jannik Sinner personally met Pope Leo XIV. The world ranking list in tennis received a private audience from Pontifex – one of the first since he took office.
The 23-year-old was accompanied by his family and Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian tennis association. Also in the luggage: two important trophies. Both the men’s team and the women’s team in Italy won the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup in 2024 – a historical tennis year for the country.
During the meeting in a building of the Vatican, there was a humorous exchange. Sinner asked Pope Leo XIV.: “Do you want to play a bit?” The Pontifex, which is considered a big tennis fan, reacted with a laugh: “No. Everything else breaks down here.”
Pope Leo XIV, with a bourgeois name Robert Francis Prevost, had previously publicly known for tennis. Just one day before the visit of Sinner, he spoke out for a benefit match in favor of the papal mission works – but with a joke: “As long as you don’t bring any sensors.” In English, “Sinner” means “sinner”.
Sinner himself took the wit. At a press conference, he commented on a smile: “Playing with the Pope? Why do you get me into trouble?” At the same time, he emphasized: “For us tennis players, it is nice to know that the Pope likes our sport.”
The South Tyrolean is currently taking part in the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome-its first tournament after a three-month doping lock.