🔗 Share this article Italy's Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at the Age of 92 Nicola Pietrangeli is one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at ninety-two. The player made history by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player until the advent of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an titan. 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 both 1961 and 1964. He set a record 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. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli is one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at ninety-two. The player made history by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player until the advent of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an titan. 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 both 1961 and 1964. He set a record 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. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."