The Italian Tennis Federation confirmed on Monday the death of legendary tennis figure Nicola Pietrangeli at the age of 92.
Pietrangeli was a pivotal figure for the sport in his native Italy and played a role in elevating its popularity. In 1959, he became the first player from his country to win a Grand Slam singles title at the French Open, which he won for a second time in 1960. He was also a semifinalist at Wimbledon (1960) and a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open (1957). In the doubles, he won two major French Open trophies in the men’s and mixed events.
For 18 years, Pietrangeli was also an instrumental figure in the Davis Cup, achieving a total win-loss record of 120-44 with 78 of those victories being in singles. In the competition, he holds the records for most total wins (120), most singles wins (78), most doubles wins (42), most ties played (66) and most years played (18) by an Italian player.
Pietrangeli’s passion for the Davis Cup expanded beyond his playing career. He was his country’s captain in 1972, 1976 and 1977. 1976 was the first time Italy won the Davis Cup.
“Nicola Pietrangeli wasn’t just a champion: he was the first to teach us what it meant to truly win, on and off the court. He was the starting point for everything our tennis has become. With him, we learned that we too could compete with the world, that dreaming big was no longer a gamble,” Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, said in a statement.
Philip Volandri, the current captain of Italy’s Davis Cup team, believes Pietrangeli’s impact and legacy will continue following his passing.
“From a witty quip to a more serious piece of advice, he always had the right way to make you reflect and remind you what it means to represent Italy. He was free, direct, authentic: that’s why he was unique,” said Volandri.
“He paved the way for all of us. His victories, his personality, and his way of experiencing tennis allowed Italy to believe it could compete at the highest levels. We grew up with his stories, with his overwhelming passion, with his ability to make us feel part of a greater story. We lose a symbol and a master, but his spirit will remain with us, in every Davis Cup and in every boy who steps onto the court wearing the Italian national team.”
Pietrangeli won 53 singles titles as an amateur and was ranked in the World’s Top 10 five times between 1957 and 1964, according to The International Tennis Hall of Fame. His best ranking was No.3 in 1959 and 1960.
No official cause of death has been announced. However, the Italian Tennis Federation notes that Pietrangeli has been in poor health since suffering a fall in December 2024.
