Azzurri Court Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Has Died at 92

Italian sport says goodbye to a authentic pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a double French Open champion, passed away at the age of 92.

Pietrangeli etched his name by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title, earning his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and successfully defending the prestigious trophy in 1960.

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

"Italian tennis is mourning an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the sole Italian honored in the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died," announced the Italian Tennis Federation.

Alongside his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also finished as runner-up in Paris in the years 1961 and 1964.

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

Organisers of the Italian Open, where he was a double winner, stated: "It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, a veritable legend of Italian tennis..."