🔗 Share this article Italy's Tennis Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two The tennis champion remains one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. In addition to his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."
The tennis champion remains one of only three Italian men to win a Grand Slam singles title. The world of tennis says goodbye to a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at 92. Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his maiden triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy a year later. With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner. "Italian tennis is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation. In addition to his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964. He holds a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its maiden title in 1976. Officials of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."