đź”— Share this article Italian Tennis Great Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at 92 Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's finest player prior to the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. Alongside his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and led his country to its first title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's finest player prior to the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. Alongside his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and led his country to its first title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."