🔗 Share this article Italy's Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at 92 The tennis champion stands as among a select trio of Italian men to secure a major singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, securing his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's finest player until the rise of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion stands as among a select trio of Italian men to secure a major singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, securing his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's finest player until the rise of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."