🔗 Share this article Italian Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at 92 The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to claim a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport mourns a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a staggering 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the country's greatest ever player until the advent of current star 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 Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his pair of French Open successes, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion is one of only three Italian men to claim a Grand Slam singles title. Italian sport mourns a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a staggering 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the country's greatest ever player until the advent of current star 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 Italian Tennis Federation. In addition to his pair of French Open successes, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, commented: "We are profoundly saddened that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."