Special visit to the Vatican for Jannik Sinner, number one in the ATP rankings, who was received yesterday by Pope Leo XIV in a private audience. A cordial and informal meeting, which confirmed the Pontiff's great passion for tennis. Also present were Sinner's parents, Hanspeter and Siglinde, the President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) Angelo Binaghi, and a federal delegation. During the meeting, Pope warmly greeted Sinner, recalling his victory the previous evening. Sinner then gave the Pontiff a racket similar to his own, "Only the color is different". And, with a ball in his hand, he smilingly asked him, "Would you like to play?" The Pope, joking, declined the invitation pointing to the room, "Never mind, here better not".  In recent weeks, the Pontiff - a well-known tennis fan - had joked with reporters about the idea of a charity match: "I'll bring Agassi," a female reporter had said. Prompt was the Pope's reply, "Just don't bring Sinner," playing on the double meaning of the tennis player's last name, which describes a sinful person in English. During the audience, held in the halls behind the Paul VI Hall, the FITP also brought with it the trophies won in Malaga by the Italian men's and women's national teams in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Finally, Binaghi presented the Pope with the Federation's honorary membership card.