Coco Gauff had an amusing reaction when she learned that the newly elected Pope Leo XIV is not only American but also a fan of tennis.
The 21-year-old tennis star couldn’t help but wonder aloud whether the Pope might be one of her many supporters, joking that if he watches women’s tennis, there’s a good chance her name rings a bell in the Vatican.
Coco Gauff Addresses the Election of the New Pope
The 2025 WTA season continues to roll through the European clay swing, with the Italian Open currently underway in Rome. Gauff is making her sixth main-draw appearance at the WTA 1000 event, having entered as the fourth seed with a direct entry into the second round.
She kicked off her campaign on Friday, May 9, with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko to book her place in the third round. During her post-match press conference, Gauff was asked about Pope Leo XIV’s affinity for tennis, a topic that’s been making headlines since his past interview resurfaced in light of his election on May 8.
“I’m not going to say that I’m up there, but he probably knows who I am if he likes tennis,” the 2023 US Open champion opined.
During his past interview, the Pope called himself “quite the amateur tennis player” while expressing his desire to get back to the court amid growing responsibilities. Coco Gauff was hopeful about the Pope’s interest in women’s tennis.
“Hopefully he watches some women’s tennis. If he does, he definitely knows who I am,” she said. “That’s pretty cool. Yeah, if not, that’s cool, too. But it’s cool that he likes tennis. I don’t know, maybe popes go to sporting events.”
Gauff’s reaction came in the wake of an extraordinary time at the Vatican. Following the death of Pope Francis at age 88 on Apr. 21, the Church entered the traditional sede vacante period while the College of Cardinals convened to elect a new pontiff.
On May 8, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, originally from Chicago, made history as the first American and first Augustinian to ascend to the papacy, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. He celebrated his first Mass as Pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, with his formal installation scheduled for May 18.
It has also been reported that the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi, has sent an invitation to the new Pope to grace the ongoing tournament with his presence.
Coco Gauff Expressed Her Desire To Witness ‘Historic’ Event Amid Her Italian Open Campaign
After Pope Francis’ passing, 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Once a candidate secures a two-thirds majority during the conclave, white smoke signals the selection, drawing thousands to St. Peter’s Square in anticipation.
Speaking to the media in her pre-tournament press conference in Rome, Coco Gauff said she hoped to witness the “historic” moment, noting that while she isn’t Catholic, she found the white smoke tradition fascinating.
“Yeah, I’m not Catholic. I would go because I feel like it’s a historic thing. We talked about it. I learned a lot because I don’t know anything about the Catholic religion. With the whole smoke thing, I thought that was cool. I would like to go and see it and be around it since we’re here,” Coco Gauff said.
Gauff, who now advances to face Poland’s Magda Linette in the third round on May 11, currently holds a 2-1 edge in their head-to-head record on the WTA Tour. The winner of that clash faces either Emma Raducanu or Veronika Kudermetova in the Round of 16.
The American tennis star is also participating in doubles with partner and Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy alum Alexandra Eala. The American-Filipino duo face Alexandra Panova and Fanny Stollár in the first round on May 10.