Following Pope Francis, a well-known San Lorenzo fan and football enthusiast, the new pontiff also reveals a sporty side. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is a great tennis lover, a sport he has practiced for years and still considers essential to his personal balance. “I consider myself an amateur tennis player,” he once said in an interview published on the Augustinian Order's website. “Since I left Peru, I haven’t had many opportunities to train, so I’m looking forward to getting back on the court.”

The tennis world has also paid tribute to Leo XIV. During the match between Fabio Fognini and Jacob Fearnley, play was paused for a few minutes on Center Court for the reading of an official message: “Peace and brotherhood among peoples have always been the founding and universal values of sport—values more relevant than ever today. The entire tennis world joins in the global embrace of the new pontiff.” As the message was read, the first public image of Pope Leo XIV appeared on the stadium’s big screen.