🔗 Share this article Italian Court Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at Ninety-Two Nicola Pietrangeli stands as one of only three Italian men to claim a major singles title. The world of tennis is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92. The player made history by emerging as the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's most accomplished player until the advent of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. Beyond his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its first title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, commented: "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 major singles title. The world of tennis is mourning a true legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92. The player made history by emerging as the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy in 1960. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's most accomplished player until the advent of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. Beyond his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its first title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."