🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at the Age of 92 Nicola Pietrangeli is among a select trio of Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy in 1960. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player until the rise of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the national federation. Alongside his pair of French Open victories, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He boasts a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli is among a select trio of Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy in 1960. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player until the rise of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the national federation. Alongside his pair of French Open victories, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He boasts a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."