🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at the Age of 92 Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to secure a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy a year later. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's finest player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," confirmed the national federation. Beyond his two French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, stated: "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 major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy a year later. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's finest player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," confirmed the national federation. Beyond his two French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its inaugural title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."