By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, December 1, 2025
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Italy has lost an icon.
He was number 3 in the world Nicola Pietrangeliconsidered the greatest Italian player of the Pre-Open Era, has died aged 92.
The Italian Tennis Federation announced Pietrangeli’s death on social media today. No cause of death was given.
A classic clay-court champion with clever strokes and indomitable determination, Pietrangeli won back-to-back Roland Garros singles titles in 1959 and 1960. He teamed with Orlando Sirola to win the French Open doubles championship in 1959 and reached the Wimbledon singles semifinals in 1960.
A dedicated team player, Pietrangeli captained Italy’s Davis Cup team to the Davis Cup championship in 1976. Davis Cup hero Pietrangeli still holds Italy’s record for most Davis Cup wins and most Davis Cup wins. He posted a 78-32 singles record and his doubles record was 42-12.
“Strongly built, with incredible instincts for play and reception, the 5-foot-11 Nicky was a versatile performer who moved with grace and purpose,” Hall of Famer Bud Collins wrote of the Italian icon in his Encyclopedia of Tennis. “It was an amateur-era career during which he won 53 singles titles and was in the world Top 10 five times between 1957 and 1964, No. 3 in 1959 and 1960.”
Pietrangeli was the first Italian ever inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986. Read his Hall of Fame bio here.
