Nicola Pietrangeli, Italian Tennis Legend, Passes Away
The tennis world mourns the loss of Nicola Pietrangeli, an emblematic Italian tennis player from the 1950s and 1960s, at the age of 92. His legacy, marked by impressive records, has left an indelible mark on the history of the sport. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation announced his death on Monday, without specifying the cause. Pietrangeli, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, was the first Italian to win a Grand Slam title, achieving victory at the French Open in 1959. He successfully defended his title the following year. I earned $150 for the 1960 title, which covered two months’ rent for my house in Rome. His dominance on the circuit led him to be runner-up at Roland Garros in 1961 and 1964, losing both finals to the Spaniard Manuel Santana. In 1959, he won the doubles title in Paris alongside Orlando Sirola.In addition to his achievements in singles and doubles, Pietrangeli reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1960 and the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 1957. In the Davis Cup, he holds the record for the most total victories and the most singles victories, with 164 matches played for Italy in 66 ties. His singles record was 78-32 and in doubles 42-12. As a player, he led Italy to the Davis Cup final twice, losing both times to Australia. However, his greatest triumph came as captain in 1976, when he guided Adriano Panatta, Corrado Barazzutti, Paolo Bertolucci and Antonio Zugarelli to victory, winning the title against Chile.In 1964, Santana and I made a bet in which the loser would pay for dinner. I fulfilled the agreement and we went out ten, including our wives, and Manolo invited (the Spanish footballer) Luisito Suárez. I spent all my tournament winnings to cover the night.
Nicola Pietrangeli
After his retirement as a player and coach, Pietrangeli became an iconic figure in Italian tennis. His presence at the Foro Italico for the Italian Open, a tournament he won in 1957 and 1961, was constant. In 2006, the Pallacorda court of the Foro Italico was renamed Stadio Pietrangeli in his honor. Pietrangeli, born in Tunis, to an Italian father and a Russian mother, leaves an indelible legacy in world tennis.That was really my biggest contribution to that final. Without me, Italy would not have traveled to that final and we would not have won.
Nicola Pietrangeli
