Pope Francis congratulated Italy after Italian Jannik Sinner became the country’s first man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly a half century.
The 22-year-old Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open 2024 title on Sunday after beating Russian Daniil Medvedev. Pope Francis made the acknowledgement while the audience with the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.
Read | AUS Open Men’s Singles Past Champions
Pope Francis said,
“Today we have to congratulate the Italian, because they won in Australia, so we congratulate them, too.”
He noted, “As tennis is either an individual sport or played in doubles, the primary aim of the game appears to be outperforming the opponent. Tennis as a life and we can’t always win. But it is an enriching challenge and if it is played as an educated manner according to the rules. Sports are not like a competing but it like as a relations. In the case of tennis sports, it is a dialogue that often becomes artistic.”
The last Italian player to win a Singles Grand Slam title was Adriano Panatta in the year 1976.
Also Read | AUS Open Men’s Doubles Past Champions
Adriano Panatta said,
“While Jannik Sinner remains No.4 in the ATP rankings, he is shown over the past four months that he deserves to be reach No.1 position. He is an exceptional kid and one of the best export products as what we have. He will win surely more Grand Slams. He is got a load of great skill, great desire and great character-wise. Sinner knows how to handle himself in the difficult moments and critical situations.”
Get more Tennis Player Profiles and Women’s Ranking and Men’s Ranking.
