Azzurri Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at Ninety-Two

Italian sport says goodbye to a true pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at ninety-two.

He carved his legacy by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy the following year.

With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the country's finest player prior to the advent of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner.

"The sport in Italy is mourning an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," announced the Italian Tennis Federation.

In addition to his two French Open victories, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964.

He set a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its inaugural title in 1976.

Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."