🔗 Share this article Italian Court Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at the Age of 92 The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport mourns a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92. He carved his legacy by emerging as the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the country's finest player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is grieving an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," stated the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in both 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 maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport mourns a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92. He carved his legacy by emerging as the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the country's finest player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is grieving an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," stated the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in both 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 maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."