🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at Ninety-Two The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's most accomplished player prior to the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. In addition to his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's most accomplished player prior to the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. In addition to his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."