🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two Nicola Pietrangeli stands as among a select trio of Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his pair of French Open victories, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He boasts a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli stands as among a select trio of Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his pair of French Open victories, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He boasts a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."