Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently ranked number one in the world, responded to a joke by Pope Francis about not allowing him to participate in a potential charity match due to his last name.
Why do you have to make things difficult for me? Obviously I heard that he played as a kid. I think it's a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we're playing. Playing with the Pope? For the future we’ll see. Who knows.
The newly elected Pope, during a conversation with a journalist who suggested a charity match to support Vatican missions featuring stars like Andre Agassi, smilingly replied, “Great idea, but you can’t invite Sinner!” The Pope later emphasized that the 23-year-old player is showcasing an exceptional level of play.
Currently, the world’s top-ranked player is taking part in the ongoing Masters clay tournament in Rome, which has been taking place from May 7 and will run until May 18. In the Round of 16, he will face Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, who is ranked 18th in the world.
Earlier, Sinner's coach, Simone Vagnozzi, shared expectations for his player’s performance in the Masters in Rome.
Moreover, the 23-year-old Sinner also spoke about his first victory after a three-month suspension due to violations of anti-doping rules.
