🔗 Share this article Italy's Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at the age of 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy a year later. With a staggering 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's finest player prior to the emergence of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is in mourning for an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his two French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its inaugural 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 true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to win a major singles title. The world of tennis is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at the age of 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy a year later. With a staggering 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's finest player prior to the emergence of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is in mourning for an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his two French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its inaugural 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 true legend of Italian tennis..."