The pope and Sinner: Love, service and a match made in heaven

ROME — Jannik Sinner says it’s “ factor for us tennis gamers” that the brand new pope likes to play the game. Even when Leo XIV jokingly stated he wouldn’t wish to organize a sport with the top-ranked participant — ostensibly due to his identify.

Throughout a gathering between the brand new American pope and worldwide media on Monday, journalists provided to play doubles, or to prepare a charity match. Leo appeared sport, “however we will’t invite Sinner,” he stated in an obvious reference to the English that means of Sinner’s final identify.

Sinner was requested in his post-match information convention concerning the pope’s remark following his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong on the Italian Open, which is being performed simply up the Tiber River from the Vatican.

Sinner took his time to reply and blushed as he stated, “Why do it’s a must to make issues troublesome for me?”

Then Sinner added: “Clearly I heard that he performed as a child. I believe it’s factor for us tennis gamers to have a pope who likes this sport that we’re taking part in.”

And what a few doable rallying session with Leo?

“For the longer term we’ll see,” Sinner stated. “Who is aware of?”