After Pope Leo XIV’s message about athletes went viral, tennis fans humorously speculated that it was directed at Jannik Sinner following his heartbreaking loss in the final of the 2025 French Open.

Sinner, who was aiming for his fourth Grand Slam title and his first at Roland Garros, defeated Arthur Rinderknech, Richard Gasquet, Jiří Lehečka, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik, and Novak Djokovic to reach the final. However, in the championship match, he fell to Carlos Alcaraz, with a nail-biting scoreline of 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), 6-7(2).

Fans Hilariously Connected Pope Leo XIV’s Opinions About Athletes to Jannik Sinner’s French Open Loss

Recently, Pope Leo XIV took to social media to share a message about the lessons sports impart regarding the “art of losing.” He mentioned that defeat helps one confront fragility, limitations, and imperfections. He also stated that athletes who never make mistakes or experience defeat simply “do not exist.”

“In our competitive society, where it seems that only the strong and winners deserve to live, sport also teaches us how to lose. It forces us, in learning the art of losing, to confront our fragility, our limitations and our imperfections. It is through the experience of these limits that we open our hearts to hope. Athletes who never make mistakes, who never lose, do not exist,” Pope Leo XIV posted on X.

In our competitive society, where it seems that only the strong and winners deserve to live, sport also teaches us how to lose. It forces us, in learning the art of losing, to confront our fragility, our limitations and our imperfections. It is through the experience of these…

— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) June 15, 2025

The Pope’s message drew many reactions, particularly among sports fans. Some speculated that his post was influenced by the Chicago White Sox’s recent loss to the Houston Astros. In contrast, others believed it was a direct commentary on Sinner’s defeat to Alcaraz.

Many fellow players and members of the tennis community had commended Sinner for his gracious demeanor following his runner-up finish at the French Open.

Interestingly, just a month prior, Sinner had met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican Auditorium, accompanied by his parents, and presented the Pope with one of his tennis rackets.

“A great honor to meet Pope Leo XIV,” Sinner had posted on his Instagram.

The Pope’s post elicited various reactions from tennis fans, who took to social media to express their opinions. One fan humorously suggested that the Pope’s message stemmed from his desire to “comment” on the final between Sinner and Alcaraz, while also offering “comfort” to the World No. 1 after his loss.

“The Pope also wanted to comment the Roland Garros final and comfort @janniksin,” a fan posted.

The Pope also wanted to comment the Roland Garros final and comfort @janniksin https://t.co/6hNnN2Agmx

— LAC (@lore_aac) June 15, 2025

Another fan expressed their belief that the Pope crafted his message specifically after watching the Roland Garros final.

“He totally wrote this after watching Sinner-Alcaraz on Sunday,” a fan wrote.

He totally wrote this after watching Sinner-Alcaraz on Sunday https://t.co/mvNFrkUV1k

— Jose (@josecm945) June 15, 2025

“Me using my serious work account to tweet about sinner:” a fan posted.

me using my serious work account to tweet about sinner: https://t.co/M3cXVgXdmE

— nic (@whereismyserve) June 15, 2025

“is that about-????” a fan wrote.

is that about-???? https://t.co/mN7Qidl3wa pic.twitter.com/bcbsNL3o8q

— livv (@livv_hq) June 15, 2025

“It took him a week to recover from Jannik’s lost finale, I get it,” a fan posted.

It took him a week to recover from Jannik’s lost finale, I get it https://t.co/qd7ziH8BX9

— valentine (@Lotikuma) June 15, 2025

Where Will Jannik Sinner Compete Next?

Following the conclusion of his campaign at the 2025 French Open, Sinner is set to begin his grass court season at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, scheduled from Jun. 16 to Jun. 22, 2025. The matches will take place on the outdoor grass courts of the OWL Arena in Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

This year, Sinner will defend his title at the ATP 500 grass court tournament in Halle. In 2024, he triumphed over Hubert Hurkacz in the final, winning 7-6(8), 7-6(2) to secure his first title on grass and his 14th career ATP Tour title overall.

Sinner will compete in both the singles and doubles events at the 2025 Terra Wortmann Open. He is the top seed and will kick off his campaign against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the first round.

Hanfmann earned his spot in the main draw by defeating Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-1 in the first qualifying round, followed by a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Nicolás Jarry in the second qualifying round.

Sinner and Hanfmann have met twice on the ATP Tour, with the World No. 1 emerging victorious in both encounters. Their most recent clash was in the first round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where Sinner triumphed with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

The winner of the Sinner-Hanfmann match will advance to face either Alexandre Müller or Alexander Bublik in the second round.

Sinner will compete in the doubles event at the 2025 Terra Wortmann Open in addition to his singles competition. He has teamed up with fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego, and the Italian duo will face off against Karen Khachanov and Alex Michelsen in the first round.

After leading the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history in 2023, Nikola Jokic cemented himself as one of the greatest big men of all time. Jokic finished second in MVP voting this year, marking the fifth consecutive year he has finished in the top two in voting for the esteemed award, including three wins.

However, Jokic has gotten to the point where an early playoff exit is seen as an extreme disappointment. After escaping the LA Clippers in Game 7 of their first-round series, the Nuggets met their fate against the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder, but taking that team to seven games is an accomplishment in itself.

However, Jokic and the Nuggets have now suffered two consecutive second-round playoff exits, and they are once again watching the NBA Finals from home. This would likely bother many players who feel like they should be the ones playing on that stage; however, Jokic does not seem to care as much.

Jokic was recently seen living his life and vacationing at home, with not much care for the NBA Finals going on.

Via Legion Hoops: “Nikola Jokic is living his best life this summer ”

This video has gone viral, mainly because this is exactly how many people picture Jokic enjoying his offseason. Jokic has always made it clear how much he enjoys being home, and with no basketball to worry about for a while, he certainly seems to be having a good time. Coming off another historic year, Jokic has deserved to rest and have a good time.

In the latest chapter of the divisive discourse over transgender inclusion in sports, retired Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner has stepped into the fray—publicly siding with Riley Gaines and criticizing her former teammate, Simone Biles.

The growing rift between Biles and Gaines has captured national attention. At its core is a heated exchange about fairness in women’s sports, ignited after Gaines made remarks regarding a transgender athlete’s participation in a high school softball tournament. Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and vocal conservative advocate, remarked, “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,” prompting widespread backlash and a sharp response from Biles.

MyKayla Skinner speaks out

Skinner, 28, released a strongly worded statement on June 13 through One America News, expressing disappointment in Biles’ choice of words and actions.

“As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I’ve always believed that true competition should elevate us — not diminish others,” Skinner stated. “That’s why it’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a fellow female athlete a ‘sore loser’— simply for expressing valid concerns about fairness in women’s sports.”

MyKayla Skinner applauded Gaines’ outspokenness, stating, “I commend and appreciate Riley Gaines for having the courage to speak up. Women like her are not only standing for fairness, but for the future of female athletics itself. She deserves support — not ridicule.”

Simone Biles and Riley Gaines clash online

Earlier this month, Simone Biles addressed Gaines’ controversial post, which misgendered a trans athlete. The gymnastics icon responded on X, formerly Twitter:

“Riley Gaines You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight-up sore loser… You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans [people] feel safe in sports.”

Simone Biles also suggested a new transgender category across all sports, emphasizing inclusivity. The 28-year-old has long been an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and frequently speaks out against hate.

However, the response did not sit well with Gaines, who hit back:

“It’s not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces… Men don’t belong in women’s sports, and I say that with my full chest.”

A rift behind the scenes

MyKayla Skinner didn’t stop at current events. She accused Biles of past mistreatment during their time as teammates, claiming she was “belittled, dismissed and ostracized” by the gymnastics superstar.

“The pressure to stay silent was immense,” she continued. “But witnessing this kind of public shaming, especially from someone in a position of influence, makes that silence no longer acceptable.”

She further criticized Biles’ use of her platform:

“It’s one thing to disagree. It’s another to use your platform to bully and demean… No one should be punished for standing up for fairness and biological reality. We should be lifting each other up — not tearing one another down for speaking hard truths.”

Biles issues apology

Despite the charged exchange, Simone Biles later offered a rare apology for getting personal:

“The current system doesn’t adequately balance [competitive equity and inclusivity]… and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”

Still, MyKayla Skinner’s remarks have added fuel to an already inflamed conversation, opening up deeper questions about how public figures address sensitive issues and disagreement in sport.

In a significant step toward supporting women athletes in their personal and professional journeys, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced a new rule to protect the rankings of players who take time off for fertility-related treatments. This includes procedures like egg or embryo freezing, which are increasingly being considered by female athletes seeking to balance the demands of sport and family planning.

Under the new policy, players ranked within the top 750 in either singles or doubles will be eligible to preserve a special entry ranking if they are absent from competition for at least 10 consecutive weeks due to a `fertility protection procedure`. While this protected ranking can be used to gain entry into up to three tournaments, it notably excludes the premier-level WTA 1000 events. The special ranking will be calculated based on the player’s 12-week average WTA ranking, taken from eight weeks before their time away from the sport.

The move has been applauded by several current and former players, including 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who shared her personal experience with fertility preservation. Stephens revealed that she has twice opted to freeze her eggs during the tennis off-season and welcomed the WTA’s progressive stance on the issue. “For any woman, the conversation of family life versus a career is nuanced and complex,” said Stephens. “I’m incredibly proud of our sport in recognising the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes. The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore options and to make the best decisions for themselves.”

The WTA, in its official statement, said the new `Fertility Protection Special Entry Ranking Rule` is designed to complement existing maternity and family-focused benefits. The initiative marks another stride toward creating a more supportive ecosystem for female players navigating the intersection of career and personal life.

Portia Archer, CEO of the WTA, emphasized the association’s ongoing commitment to empowering players. “We understand that professional athletes can face a dilemma between focusing on their career and starting a family, and we are committed to supporting WTA players as they navigate and balance the choices associated with career and family,” she said.

In March the WTA and Saudi Arabia`s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the introduction of a maternity fund programme, giving players paid maternity leave for up to 12 months and access to grants for fertility treatments. The PIF is a global partner of the WTA Tour.

(With AFP inputs)

On June 1, 2025, endurance athletes from RadStrong Coaching, mostly Pune-based, demonstrated their grit by successfully completing the IRONMAN Hamburg European Championship and IRONMAN Brazil. Led by coach Dr. Kaustubh Radkar, a total of 16 athletes conquered these gruelling races, pushing themselves through a 226 km challenge: a 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycling, and a full 42.2 km marathon in vastly different conditions.

While IRONMAN Hamburg tested competitors with its strict 15-hour 30-minute cutoff, IRONMAN Brazil offered its own challenge through a demanding bike course with an elevation of 940 meters.

At IRONMAN Hamburg, 12 athletes represented RadStrong Coaching among 44 Indian participants, showcasing incredible perseverance and teamwork. The group initially came together to support Amit Thete, a former Indian Army Major attempting his first full distance IRONMAN. Their collective preparation translated into impressive results, with Amit Thete completing his maiden IRONMAN in 14 hours, 8 minutes.

“As an ex-Army Major and sports enthusiast, completing my first full Ironman was a very special experience,” Thete told Pune Pulse. “It was a journey where intense training, diet, and mind control were the pillars, but it was the camaraderie with experienced buddies that truly made the dream come true. The race itself exceeded my expectations with its vibrant atmosphere, keeping all of us going strong until the end.”

IMG-20250324-WA0012

Mihir Barve emerged as the third-fastest Indian finisher, completing the race in 11 hours, 41 minutes.

“The beauty of endurance sports is that you compete against yourself; the urge to keep improving motivates me to get faster with every race,” Barve shared with Pune Pulse. “This simple life lesson is the North star that guides my journey.”

The group’s senior-most participant, Ashish Sandu (55-59 age group), finished in 14 hours, 39 minutes. Dr. Kaustubh Radkar himself crossed the finish line in 13 hours, 44 minutes, securing his 41st IRONMAN finish. The rest of the contingent crossed the finish line within the cutoff time.

Success in South America

Meanwhile, over in Florianópolis, Brazil, four RadStrong athletes from Pune conquered South America’s signature IRONMAN race. Dashrath Jadhav, at 68 years old, was the senior-most athlete among the Indian participants, bringing experience and determination to the challenging course. He finished in 14 hours, 56 minutes, and 18 seconds, securing the title of fastest Indian at IRONMAN Brazil. Venkatesh Kashelikar (16:17:34) and Jadhav now share a rare distinction—having completed an IRONMAN on all six continents, joining a select global club of endurance athletes.

“My triathlon journey, which began with Olympic distances in 2016 and evolved into IRONMAN races, culminated on June 1st, 2025, with the incredible achievement of completing an Ironman on every continent,” Venkatesh Kashelikar told Pune Pulse. “This unique feat, years in the making, has been a testament to consistent training and the unwavering support of my loved ones.”

Nikhilesh Pant (14:56:19) and Hemant Parmar (16:20:36) rounded out Pune’s representation with strong finishes.

This collective success, a source of immense pride for Pune, is a testament to the athletes’ physical grit and serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring individuals to dream big and push beyond their perceived limits.

“Witnessing the finish line smiles of 15 of my athletes at IRONMAN Hamburg and Brazil fills me with immense pride,” added Radkar while speaking to Pune Pulse. “Their journey involved rigorous training through the harsh Indian summer conditions and navigating their busy professional and personal schedules. My role is to work with each athlete to get the best out of their potential, and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing them on the course, brilliantly executing the race strategy, and benefiting from the powerful company that encourages each other for a stronger finish.”

RadStrong Athletes at IRONMAN Hamburg 2025

Aalok Thakurdesai, Amit Thete, Ashish Sandu, Chinmay Diwan, Kaustubh Radkar, Mihir Barve, Nikhil Dixit, Preyas Annachhatre, Sameer Inamdar, Tanmay Nahar, Vikrant Ghotge and Vinay Wekhande

RadStrong Athletes at IRONMAN Brazil 2025

Dashrath Jadhav, Hemant Parmar, Nikhilesh Pant, Venkatesh Kashelikar