Leo is an avid tennis player and fan and had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner had an audience on Wednesday with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, himself a keen tennis player, the Vatican said. Sinner was invited to the Vatican along with his parents and a delegation from the Italian Tennis Federation.

Pope Leo XIV received world number one tennis player Jannik Sinner at the Vatican on Wednesday but they stopped short of hitting a few balls. Italy's Sinner, who is playing in Rome at the Italian Open where he had the day off,