Azzurri Tennis Great Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at 92

The world of tennis mourns a authentic icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92.

Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the initial Italian to capture a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy the following year.

With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the nation's greatest ever player prior to the advent of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner.

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

Alongside his pair of French Open successes, Pietrangeli also reached the final in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964.

He holds a remarkable 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, securing victories in 120 of them, and guided his country to its first title in 1976.

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