Azzurri Tennis Icon Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at 92

The world of tennis mourns a true pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, left us at 92.

The player made history by emerging as the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, achieving his initial triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy a year later.

With an impressive 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was long held to be the nation's greatest ever player prior to the emergence of current world number two and four-times major winner Jannik Sinner.

"Italian tennis is grieving an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has passed away," stated the national federation.

Beyond his pair of French Open triumphs, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in both 1961 and 1964.

He boasts a record 164 matches played for Italy in the Davis Cup, winning 120 of them, and spearheaded his country to its inaugural title in 1976.

Organisers of the Italian Open, an event where he was a two-time winner, said: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis..."