By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, December 1, 2025
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Italy has lost an icon.
Former world No. 3 Nicola Pietrangeli, regarded as the greatest Italian player in the Pre-Open Era, has died at age 92.
The Italian Tennis Federation announced Pietrangeli’s passing today on social media. No cause of death was given.
A classic clay-court champion with artful strokes and unrelenting resolve, Pietrangeli won successive Roland Garros singles titles in 1959 and 1960. He partnered Orlando Sirola to claim the French Open doubles championship in 1959 and reached the Wimbledon singles semifinals in 1960.
A devoted team player, Pietrangeli captained the Italian Davis Cup team to the Davis Cup championship in 1976. Davis Cup hero Pietrangeli still owns Italy’s record for most Davis Cup singles wins and most Davis Cup victories. He posted a 78-32 singles record and his doubles record was 42-12.
“Solidly built, possessing exceptional instincts for the game and anticipation, 5-foot-11 Nicky was an all -around performer, who moved with grace and purpose,” Hall of Famer Bud Collins wrote of the Italian icon in his Encyclopedia of Tennis. “His was a career of the amateur era 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.
Here’s Nicola Pietrangeli’s International Tennis Hall of Fame obituary written by fellow Hall of Famer Steve Flink:
During that golden stretch of his career, Pietrangeli played some of his most inspired tennis for audiences in his home country, winning twice at the Italian Championships at the fabled Foro Italico in Rome. He took the first of those prestigious titles in 1957 when he knocked out compatriot Beppe Merlo in the final, and prevailed again at that venue in 1961 with a final round triumph over the rising Australian Rod Laver. And yet, Pietrangeli never gave more of himself than he did when representing his country in the Davis Cup with such ferocity. From 1954 to 1972 he missed only one year in that forum, investing immeasurable emotional energy in the process. He played and won more than anyone in tennis history, appearing in an astounding 164 Cup matches altogether, finishing with remarkable records of 78-32 in singles and 42-12 in doubles. He was such a prolific participant and achiever that the esteemed American writer Bud Collins called Pietrangeli “Signor Davis Cup.” Driving Pietrangeli more than the lofty personal numbers was his quest to bring glory to his nation with a Cup victory. He came very close to realizing that goal, leading Italy into the Challenge Round [final] in both 1960 and 1961.
Facing the United States in the 1960 semifinals, the Italians were behind 2-0 in the best of five match series in Perth, Australia, but Pietrangeli and Sirola stunned the heavily favored American tandem of Chuck McKinley and Butch Buchholz in four sets. On the final day, Pietrangeli defeated Buchholz in five sets before Sirola bested Barry MacKay. Italy triumphed 3-2. Pietrangeli was exhilarated by that victory, but against Australia in the final his team lost 4-1. And yet, Pietrangeli managed to win some bragging rights by upending Fraser in the fifth and final match.
A year later, Italy lost to the Australians again, suffering a 5-0 setback. But Pietrangeli pushed Laver to the hilt on the lawns of Melbourne before losing 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 8-6 in a blockbuster.
In his book, “The Story of the Davis Cup”, Alan Trengove wrote that Pietrangeli was “one of the most gifted players in the world. With his flowing ground strokes and fine touch, he played an elegant and unhurried game.”
Nicola “Nicky” Pietrangeli was born in Tunis, Italy, on September 11, 1933, the city where his paternal grandfather had introduced the first railroad in that country. His father, Giulio, was an excellent athlete.
As a boy, Pietrangeli was much more immersed in soccer than tennis but as he moved through his teens his feelings toward the two sports changed irrevocably and tennis became his priority. Over the decades, he was so popular in Italy that he clearly transcended tennis and became a singular sports hero.
Pietrangeli is survived by two of his sons, Marco and Filippo.
