🔗 Share this article Azzurri Tennis Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at 92 Nicola Pietrangeli is among a select trio of Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis mourns a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy a year later. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's finest player until the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist 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 guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli is among a select trio of Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis mourns a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, left us at 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy a year later. With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's finest player until the advent of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist 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 guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."