Sinner’s warm hug with Alcaraz at the net after the defeat suggests that the Italian was not talking about Alcaraz when he made those comments

Jannik Sinner visited with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV last week, but was without a prayer as he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian Open final on Sunday, losing 6-7 1-6.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 7-6 (5), 6-1 to win his first Italian Open on Sunday and add another big clay-court title to his résumé.