Italian Court Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at Ninety-Two

Italian sport is mourning a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at 92.

Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy a year later.

With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's most accomplished player prior to the rise of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner.

"The sport in Italy is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," confirmed the national federation.

In addition to his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964.

He boasts a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, securing victories in 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976.

Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."