🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at 92 The tennis champion is among a select trio of Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at ninety-two. The player made history by becoming the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player prior to the emergence of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up 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 led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion is among a select trio of Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at ninety-two. The player made history by becoming the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player prior to the emergence of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up 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 led his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."