Azzurri Tennis Great Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at 92

The world of tennis is mourning a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at the age of 92.

Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his maiden triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy the following year.

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

"The sport in Italy is grieving an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian honored in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," confirmed 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 boasts a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and led his country to its maiden title in 1976.

Officials of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, commented: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."