Jannik Sinner’s name might be upheld as the current standard for great tennis, but his surname certainly has raised odd moments. Remember the 2021 French Open press conference? He was asked an odd question, “Your surname is Sinner, but some of your fans think you’re a saint because you look like an angel. Do you play your best tennis when you’re calm and relaxed like a saint or when you’re fired up with a bit of devil like a sinner?” This earned a laugh from the Italian, who didn’t know how to react. Now the new pope is joining in on the joke as well!
On Monday, Pope Leo XIV held his first meeting with the press in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. The pontiff was pressed by a reporter about the possible organization of a charity tennis match: “Sure, that,” was the answer. The reporter then relaunched: “I’ll bring Andre Agassi.” However, the pontiff was not caught off guard as he replied, via Deccan Herald, “Just don’t bring Jannik Sinner.” The joke targeted making a Catholic pun about the last name of the Italian champion’s name. It was in good fun, though!
The moment went viral as ESPN Tenis shared the moment on X, quoting the Pope, “I’ll accept a benefit match (responding to a journalist), even though I don’t play well, as long as you don’t bring Sinner.” And garnered nearly 2k likes and over 50K views under the tweet! The new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost was elected last week on May 8, Thursday, just two days before Jannik’s first match back since his three-month ban ended.
“Acepto un partido a beneficio (respondiendo a un periodista), aunque no juego bien, siempre y cuando no traigas a Sinner”.
Papa León XIV pic.twitter.com/PdrNGvym9V
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) May 12, 2025
For the unversed, the Italian No.1 was out of competition due to a three-month suspension after his doping controversy started. It began in March 2024 when he tested positive twice for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol, which he noted entered his system through a gloveless massage by his former physiotherapist, who used a spray containing Clostebol before massaging Sinner. Since then, he’s been caught up in a back-and-forth with the ITIA, WADA, and CAS for his final verdict that came in February this year and ended on May 4.
He played his last match at the Australian Open and won the title against Alexander Zverev. And after holding a stellar winning streak since October last year, his return has been highly anticipated by many. But while Pope Leo XIV might jokingly not want to see Sinner at a charity match, the late Pope Francis has praised the Italian’s wins in the past.
Following AO triumph Pope Francis congratulates Jannik on his big win
Sinner made history last year by winning his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on January 28, 2024. He staged an incredible comeback from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the final. This victory made him only the third Italian man ever to win a Major title. The win was a milestone for Italian tennis and caught the attention of none other than Pope Francis, who shared his thoughts on the young champion’s success in Melbourne.
The news of Sinner’s triumph reached Pope Francis while he was delivering a sermon at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona. The 87-year-old pontiff praised Italy’s achievement, saying, “Today we have to congratulate the Italians because, yesterday, they won in Australia. So we congratulate them, too.”
He then reflected on the spirit of tennis, adding, “It would seem that the objective of the game is to be better than the opponent. In tennis, as in life, we can’t always win. But it’s an enriching challenge if it is played in an educated manner according to the rules. Sports are not just about competing but also relations. And in the case of tennis, it’s a dialogue that often becomes artistic.” Jannik’s resilience and skill earned him widespread admiration and marked a new chapter for Italian tennis, which had not seen a Major champion since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Now, after a three-month break, Sinner is back on tour and making waves at the Italian Open. He has already cleared his first two hurdles by defeating Mariano Navone and Jesper De Jong in the round of 32. On Tuesday, May 13, he faces Francisco Cerundolo in the Round of 16. Fans are eager to see if this rising star can make a deep run in the tournament. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Pope Leo Doesn’t Hold Back on a Cheeky Jannik Sinner Pun as His Love for Tennis Calls for an Andre Agassi Match appeared first on EssentiallySports.