American tennis personality Rachel Stuhlmann took a soulful detour from the clay courts of Rome to attend a papal celebration mass at the historic Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Sharing her spiritual encounter during the 2025 Italian Open, the former NCAA athlete called the moment an “unbelievable experience.”
Rachel Stuhlmann Coached Varvara Lepchenko During Italian Open in Rome
Stuhlmann’s visit coincided with the ongoing Jubilee Year 2025, a rare Holy Year celebrated once every quarter-century by the Catholic Church, marked by pilgrimage, forgiveness, and renewal. As one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore plays a central role during the Jubilee, drawing millions of faithful through its Holy Door, which was opened on Jan. 1 and will close on Dec. 28.
The basilica, steeped in tradition and grandeur, also became the final resting place of Pope Francis, who died on Apr. 21, 2025. His successor, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, has since taken the reins, leading many liturgical events left behind by the late pontiff.
Amid Rome’s tennis frenzy, Stuhlmann has been balancing her coaching responsibilities with her growing media presence. The USPTA-certified coach and influencer traveled to the city to support and coach Uzbekistani-American player Varvara Lepchenko, currently ranked No. 119 in singles.
Lepchenko started strong with a straight-sets victory over Erika Andreeva but was later edged out by fellow American Katie Volynets in the second qualifying round. Amid the action-packed tournament, Stuhlmann took time away from the courts to join the Jubilee celebrations.
Rachel Stuhlmann took to Instagram stories on May 8 from Rome to share the moment with her followers. She also shared a clip of the new Pope’s name announcement on the Italian Open courts.
“I went to the conclusive papal celebration mass this morning. Unbelievable experience,” she wrote over a snapshot from inside the basilica.
Rachel Stuhlmann Opened Up About a Hilarious Bathroom Mishap During Ongoing Rome Trip
Rachel Stuhlmann encountered an unexpected mishap during the 2025 Italian Open, finding herself briefly trapped in a bathroom just before a planned appearance on Tennis Channel.
In a lighthearted yet slightly concerning moment she shared on Instagram, the American tennis influencer recounted being accidentally locked inside a restroom at the tournament venue for nearly 10 minutes, almost fainting before she was able to get out.
“Funny story, I got locked in a bathroom onsite yesterday,” Stuhlmann wrote, alongside a photo of the locked door. “Was stuck for like 10 min. I almost passed out and was almost late for my Tennis Channel spot.”