Italy's Tennis Great Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at 92

The world of tennis mourns a genuine legend: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at 92.

The player made history by becoming the initial Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retaining the prestigious trophy the following year.

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

"The sport in Italy is in mourning for an legend. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the national federation.

Alongside his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also was the finalist in Paris in both 1961 and 1964.

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

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