Italian Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two

Nicola Pietrangeli

Nicola Pietrangeli is one of only three Italian men to secure a Grand Slam singles title.

The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92.

Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, securing his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy in 1960.

With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's greatest ever player until the rise of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner.

"The sport in Italy is mourning an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed the Italian Tennis Federation.

Alongside his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in both 1961 and 1964.

He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its inaugural title in 1976.

Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a two-time winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."

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Denise Alvarez

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