Italian tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has passed away at 92. The country’s tennis federation made the announcement on Monday.
The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) confirmed his death in a statement. They expressed, “Italian tennis is mourning an icon.” Pietrangeli was the only Italian inducted into the World Tennis Hall of Fame.
Pietrangeli was born in Tunis in 1933 to an Italian father and Russian mother. For many years, he was considered Italy’s greatest tennis player. Some believe he held this title until Jannik Sinner, the current world number two, emerged.
He won 44 career singles titles. His most notable victories were at Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960.
Pietrangeli also reached the French Open final two more times. He lost to Spain’s Manuel Santana in both 1961 and 1964. In the same year as his second Paris victory, he also made the Wimbledon final.
Organisers of the Italian Open, a tournament he won twice, shared their sadness. In an emotional tribute, they stated: “It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis… Ciao, Nicola.”
In 1976, he captained the national team. They secured Italy’s first-ever Davis Cup title. This cemented his place as a foundational figure in Italian tennis history.
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