Italy's world number one Jannik
Sinner and Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) President Angelo
Binaghi were received by Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on
Wednesday along with their families.
Sinner gave the American pontiff, a keen tennis player, a racket
and asked "would you like to play?".
The pope replied by gesturing to the lamps and other furniture
in the room attached to the Paul VI Hall and saying "better not
here" before adding "at Wimbledon they would let me".
Sinner, who is from the majority German-speaking province of
Bolzano, introduced the pope to his parents.
Leo asked if they spoke German and Sinner confirmed that they
do.
Binaghi then gave Leo XIV a FITP membership card.
Sinner is currently taking part in the Italian Open in Rome
after returning from a three-month suspension for a doping
offence.
He is not in action on Wednesday after beating Argentine
Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 on Tuesday to reach the
quarter-finals
The Pontiff congratulated Sinner on Tuesday's match and asked
how the tournament in Rome was going.
"We are in the running," Sinner said.
"It was tough at the beginning of the tournament, but we've got
three matches done".
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