🔗 Share this article Italy's Tennis Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at ninety-two. He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be 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 icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," stated the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his pair of French Open victories, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, securing victories in 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, said: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis mourns a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at ninety-two. He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be 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 icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," stated the Italian Tennis Federation. Beyond his pair of French Open victories, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, securing victories in 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, said: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."