🔗 Share this article Italy's Court Great Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a true pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at 92. The player made history by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player until the emergence of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," announced the national federation. Beyond his pair of French Open successes, 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, securing victories in 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
Nicola Pietrangeli remains one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a true pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at 92. The player made history by becoming the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy the following year. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player until the emergence of current star and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," announced the national federation. Beyond his pair of French Open successes, 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, securing victories in 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976. Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."