World No.1 Jannik Sinner may have made a strong return to the court following his doping suspension, but he’s now at the center of a light-hearted controversy involving none other than the Pope.
After advancing to the last-16 of the Italian Open with a confident 6-4, 6-2 win over Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong, Sinner found himself responding to comments made by Pope Leo XIV during a recent meeting with journalists.
The 69-year-old Pontiff, a self-proclaimed tennis fan, joked about organizing a charity match. When one journalist suggested bringing Andre Agassi, the Pope replied with a smile: “Just don’t bring Sinner.”
Though the remark caused a stir, it was clearly made in jest — a playful pun on Sinner’s surname rather than a serious call for further sanctions.
The Italian Open is taking place at the Foro Italico in Rome, less than two miles from the Vatican, giving the Pope a close-up view of the tournament. After his match, Sinner was asked about the Pope’s tennis enthusiasm.
“Why do you have to make things difficult for me?” Sinner laughed. “I heard he played as a kid. I think it’s great that the Pope enjoys the sport we love.”
When asked if he might one day rally with Pope Leo, the 23-year-old replied: “For the future, we’ll see. Who knows.”
Sinner’s performance in Rome so far has been impressive, as he aims to put the doping controversy behind him and reclaim his dominance on the ATP Tour.
