Tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli is dead
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Italian tennis is in mourning following the death of Nicola Pietrangeli, the country’s greatest pre-Sinner era player and a two-time French Open champion. He was 92.
Italian tennis is in mourning following the death of Nicola Pietrangeli, the country’s greatest pre-Sinner era player and a two-time French Open champion. He was 92.
Italy’s tennis federation confirmed the news on Monday, describing Pietrangeli as “an icon and the only Italian in the World Tennis Hall of Fame.”
Born in Tunis in 1933 to an Italian father and Russian mother, Pietrangeli dominated his era, winning 44 career singles titles, including back-to-back Roland Garros crowns in 1959 and 1960. He also reached two more French Open finals and made the Wimbledon final in 1960.
The organisers of the Italian Open, which he won twice, paid tribute, saying, “Ciao, Nicola… a true legend of Italian tennis.”
Pietrangeli was also a Davis Cup giant for Italy, featuring in 164 matches and later leading the country to its historic first title as captain in 1976.
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