Jannik Sinner Meets Pope Leo XIV Amid Italian Open Success

ROME, Italy — Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Wednesday during his time at the Italian Open. Sinner, who recently returned from a three-month doping ban, has had a remarkable tournament so far, advancing to the semifinals after a stunning 6-0, 6-1 victory over No. 6 seed Casper Ruud on Thursday.

During the visit, Sinner presented the pope with a tennis racket, signifying a moment of connection between the sport and the Vatican. “I never experienced something like this,” Sinner said, reflecting on the emotional significance of the meeting. “It was something I will never forget, that’s for sure.”

Ruud, despite his loss, praised Sinner’s performance, describing it as overwhelming, stating, “It was like playing a wall that shoots 100 mph balls at you all the time.” He added, “It was almost fun to witness at the same time.”

Sinner is making history by reaching the semifinals for the first time in his career at the Italian Open. He is set to face American Tommy Paul, who is dealing with personal setbacks off the court. Paul revealed that his truck was repossessed due to missed payments, but he remains focused on his match ahead.

Meanwhile, compatriot Lorenzo Musetti is also having a strong showing, defeating No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev to meet Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the other semifinal.

On the women’s side, Italian Jasmine Paolini aims to end a 40-year drought for Italian women’s singles titles at the Italian Open. She will face American Coco Gauff in the final after defeating Peyton Stearns in her semifinal matchup. Paolini expressed gratitude for the support of fans, stating, “It’s beautiful to play here in Italy and they support us no matter what.”

Fans eagerly anticipate the finals of both the men’s and women’s tournaments this weekend.