🔗 Share this article Italian Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at the Age of 92 Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to claim a Grand Slam 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 initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player prior to the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. Alongside his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He boasts a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to claim a Grand Slam 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 initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player prior to the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. Alongside his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He boasts a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."