Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner was honoured by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday evening in Rome.
Sinner and Meloni watched the highlights of the Australian Open final on TV.
He autographed a tennis ball and posed with Meloni for the photographers with Australian Open trophy and the Italian flag.
By rallying from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final, Sinner became the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly a half century — since Adriano Panatta won the French Open trophy in 1976.
In November, Sinner also led Italy to its first Davis Cup title since 1976.
Sinner will hold a news conference with Italian Tennis and Padel Federation president Angelo Binaghi on Wednesday.
Then he and his Davis Cup teammates are scheduled to be honored by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday.
On Monday, Pope Francis congratulated Italy for Sinner’s victory.