Picture credit score: Italian Tennis Federation Fb
Italy has misplaced an icon.
Former world No. 3 Nicola Pietrangeli, considered the best Italian participant within the Pre-Open Period, has died at age 92.
The Italian Tennis Federation introduced Pietrangeli’s passing at the moment on social media. No reason for dying was given.
A basic clay-court champion with clever strokes and unrelenting resolve, Pietrangeli received successive Roland Garros singles titles in 1959 and 1960. He partnered Orlando Sirola to assert the French Open doubles championship in 1959 and reached the Wimbledon singles semifinals in 1960.
A loyal crew participant, Pietrangeli captained the Italian Davis Cup crew to the Davis Cup championship in 1976. Davis Cup hero Pietrangeli nonetheless owns Italy’s document for many Davis Cup singles wins and most Davis Cup victories. He posted a 78-32 singles document and his doubles document was 42-12.
“Solidly constructed, possessing distinctive instincts for the sport and anticipation, 5-foot-11 Nicky was an all -around performer, who moved with grace and objective,” Corridor of Famer Bud Collins wrote of the Italian icon in his Encyclopedia of Tennis. “His was a profession of the novice period throughout which he received 53 singles titles and was on this planet Prime 10 5 instances between 1957 and 1964, No. 3 in 1959 and 1960.”
Pietrangeli was the primary Italian ever inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in 1986. Learn his Corridor of Fame bio right here.
Right here’s Nicola Pietrangeli’s Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame obituary written by fellow Corridor of Famer Steve Flink:
In the meantime, Pietrangeli was victorious at Roland-Garros twice in doubles. He took the boys’s doubles alongside Orlando Sirola in 1959. They defeated Australians Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser within the 1959 ultimate after claiming the blended doubles title with Nice Britain’s Shirley Bloomer in 1958 over the Australian duo of Bob Howe and Lorraine Coghlan 8-6, 6-2.
Throughout that golden stretch of his profession, Pietrangeli performed a few of his most impressed tennis for audiences in his house nation, profitable twice on the Italian Championships on the fabled Foro Italico in Rome. He took the primary of these prestigious titles in 1957 when he knocked out compatriot Beppe Merlo within the ultimate, and prevailed once more at that venue in 1961 with a ultimate spherical conquer the rising Australian Rod Laver.
And but, Pietrangeli by no means gave extra of himself than he did when representing his nation within the Davis Cup with such ferocity. From 1954 to 1972 he missed just one 12 months in that discussion board, investing immeasurable emotional vitality within the course of. He performed and received greater than anybody in tennis historical past, showing in an astounding 164 Cup matches altogether, ending with outstanding information of 78-32 in singles and 42-12 in doubles. He was such a prolific participant and achiever that the esteemed American author Bud Collins referred to as Pietrangeli “Signor Davis Cup.”
Driving Pietrangeli greater than the lofty private numbers was his quest to carry glory to his nation with a Cup victory. He got here very shut to realizing that purpose, main Italy into the Problem Spherical [final] in each 1960 and 1961. Going through the USA within the 1960 semifinals, the Italians have been behind 2-0 in the very best of 5 match collection in Perth, Australia, however Pietrangeli and Sirola shocked the closely favored American tandem of Chuck McKinley and Butch Buchholz in 4 units. On the ultimate day, Pietrangeli defeated Buchholz in 5 units earlier than Sirola bested Barry MacKay. Italy triumphed 3-2.
Pietrangeli was exhilarated by that victory, however in opposition to Australia within the ultimate his crew misplaced 4-1. And but, Pietrangeli managed to win some bragging rights by upending Fraser within the fifth and ultimate match. A 12 months later, Italy misplaced to the Australians once more, struggling a 5-0 setback. However Pietrangeli pushed Laver to the hilt on the lawns of Melbourne earlier than dropping 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 8-6 in a blockbuster.
In his guide, “The Story of the Davis Cup”, Alan Trengove wrote that Pietrangeli was “one of the vital gifted gamers on this planet. Together with his flowing floor strokes and effective contact, he performed a chic and unhurried sport.”
Nicola “Nicky” Pietrangeli was born in Tunis, Italy, on September 11, 1933, town the place his paternal grandfather had launched the primary railroad in that nation. His father, Giulio, was a wonderful athlete. As a boy, Pietrangeli was rather more immersed in soccer than tennis however as he moved via his teenagers his emotions towards the 2 sports activities modified irrevocably and tennis turned his precedence. Over the many years, he was so fashionable in Italy that he clearly transcended tennis and have become a singular sports activities hero.
Pietrangeli is survived by two of his sons, Marco and Filippo.
