🔗 Share this article Azzurri Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at Ninety-Two Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport says goodbye to a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at ninety-two. Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the pioneering Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the national federation. Beyond his two French Open triumphs, 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, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Organisers 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 true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport says goodbye to a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at ninety-two. Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the pioneering Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the national federation. Beyond his two French Open triumphs, 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, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Organisers 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 true legend of Italian tennis..."