🔗 Share this article Azzurri Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at the Age of 92 The tennis champion stands as among a select trio of Italian men to claim a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a genuine legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at 92. The player made history by emerging as the pioneering Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's finest player until the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his two French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, securing victories in 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion stands as among a select trio of Italian men to claim a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a genuine legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at 92. The player made history by emerging as the pioneering Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's finest player until the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his two French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, securing victories in 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."