Azzurri Tennis Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at the Age of 92

Italian sport is mourning a true icon: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, has died at the age of 92.

Pietrangeli etched his name by emerging as the initial Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the coveted trophy a year later.

With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the nation's greatest ever player until the emergence of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner.

"The sport in Italy is grieving an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," stated the Italian Tennis Federation.

In addition to his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964.

He set a record 164 matches played for Italy in the prestigious team competition, winning 120 of them, and guided his country to its maiden title in 1976.

Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, stated: "We are profoundly saddened that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."