🔗 Share this article Italian Court Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at Ninety-Two The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis mourns 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 capture a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy in 1960. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player until the advent of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," stated the national federation. Beyond his pair of French Open successes, 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, securing victories in 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its first title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, stated: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis mourns 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 capture a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy in 1960. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player until the advent of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," stated the national federation. Beyond his pair of French Open successes, 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, securing victories in 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its first title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, stated: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."