🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at 92 Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to secure a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy in 1960. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player until the emergence of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," stated the national federation. Beyond his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He set 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 double winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to secure a major singles title. Italian sport is mourning a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at 92. He carved his legacy by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy in 1960. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player until the emergence of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "The sport in Italy is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," stated the national federation. Beyond his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in both 1961 and 1964. He set 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 double winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."