🔗 Share this article Italian Tennis Great Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at the Age of 92 Nicola Pietrangeli remains among a select trio of Italian men to secure a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the pioneering Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's greatest ever player until the emergence of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. Alongside his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its first title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli remains among a select trio of Italian men to secure a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the pioneering Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's greatest ever player until the emergence of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. Alongside his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its first title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."