Jannik Sinner, the world number 1 tennis player, back from suspension, received by Pope Leo XIV, a fan of the little yellow ball

He was known to be a tennis enthusiast, and it didn't take him long to put it into practice. Less than a week after his election, Pope Leo XIV received the world number one tennis player, Jannik Sinner, at the Vatican on Wednesday, May 14. The 23-year-old Italian – accompanied by members of his family during his visit – wasn't far behind: the day before, he had reached the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Rome, after his victory in two sets against the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (7-6, 6-3).

While his predecessor, Francis, was known for his passion for football , the first pope from the United States shared his love of the little yellow ball on Monday during an audience with the international press. A journalist then suggested he take part in a charity tournament. "Certainly," the pope replied. "I'll come with Agassi," she retorted. "As long as it's not Sinner," the pope joked - in English, "sinner" means "sinner."

A joke that the world number 1 did not hold against the Pope. Jannik Sinner donated a racket to Robert Francis Prevost, 69, and himself a tennis player. He has "an excellent backhand and is a formidable competitor," assured the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport after the conclave. "I consider myself an amateur tennis player. Since I left Peru, I have had few opportunities to play, but I am looking forward to returning to a court," confirmed the American prelate in 2023, in an interview given after his elevation to the cardinalate in 2023, at the site of the Augustinians, the religious order to which he belongs. The Vatican has an outdoor clay tennis court.

Along with Sinner, the delegation also included the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi, who presented the Pope with an honorary membership card to the federation and presented the trophies won by the Italian teams in the 2024 Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

Asked about the papal interest after his victory in the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Rome, Jannik Sinner welcomed the interest: "It's wonderful for tennis players to have a Pope who follows us and who has played." Enough to obtain absolution? Because beyond the play on words with his name and his visit to the Vatican, Jannik Sinner is seeking redemption.

The Roman tournament marks the return to the courts of the young world number one after his three-month doping suspension. The sanction was imposed under an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency following two positive doping tests for an anabolic steroid in March 2024. He had pleaded accidental contamination via a massage given by his physiotherapist. Back in front of his home crowd in Rome, the winner of the Australian Open in January will be among the favorites to win the French Open (May 25 to June 8).