🔗 Share this article Italian Tennis Great Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at 92. The player made history by emerging as the initial Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's finest player until the emergence of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his pair of 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 Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and led his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at 92. The player made history by emerging as the initial Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's finest player until the emergence of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his pair of 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 Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and led his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."