Italy's world number one Jannik Sinner and Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) President Angelo Binaghi were received by Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on Wednesday along with their families.
    Sinner gave the American pontiff, a keen tennis player, a racket and asked "would you like to play?".
    The pope replied by gesturing to the lamps and other furniture in the room attached to the Paul VI Hall and saying "better not here" before adding "at Wimbledon they would let me".
    Sinner, who is from the majority German-speaking province of Bolzano, introduced the pope to his parents.
    Leo asked if they spoke German and Sinner confirmed that they do.
    Binaghi then gave Leo XIV a FITP membership card.
    Sinner is currently taking part in the Italian Open in Rome after returning from a three-month suspension for a doping offence.
    He is not in action on Wednesday after beating Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals The Pontiff congratulated Sinner on Tuesday's match and asked how the tournament in Rome was going.
    "We are in the running," Sinner said.
    "It was tough at the beginning of the tournament, but we've got three matches done".

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