On the heels of having his MLB fandom confirmed last week, Pope Leo XIV's sports credentials keep getting stronger after a meeting with the best men's tennis player in the world.

Jannik Sinner is still regaining his focus on the tennis court after his three-month doping ban. The world No. 1 overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 93 Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong in his second match back on tour in front of his home crowd at the Italian Open on Monday.

Amid his run at the 2025 Italian Open, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner enjoyed a memorable off-court moment as he met Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. On Wednesday, the 23-year-old star was received in a private audience alongside his family and the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, Mr. Angelo Binaghi.

This was Jannik Sinner's 50th victory as the ATP's top-ranked player, in just his 53rd outing as the world number one. Since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, that is the joint-fewest matches required to reach 50 wins as the world number one,

Italy’s Jannik Sinner serves the ball to Netherlands’ Jesper De Jong during their tennis match at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands’ Jesper De Jong during their tennis match at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico,

Jannik Sinner went to extreme lengths to make sure Jesper De Jong was fully supported after the Dutchman suffered a nasty injury during their match at the Italian Open. In the fifth game of the second set, De Jong slipped on the clay surface and tumbled to the floor.

Pope Leo XIV has made peace with Jannik Sinner. The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off-day for Sinner at the Italian Open.

In a clash between two of the fastest players on tour, American 11th seed Tommy Paul takes down Australia's Alex de Minaur in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals.