Italy's Court Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Dies at 92

The world of tennis says goodbye to a genuine pioneer: Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92.

The player made history by becoming the first Italian to secure a Grand Slam singles title, securing his initial triumph at the French Open in 1959 and successfully defending the coveted trophy in 1960.

With a remarkable 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was universally regarded as the country's greatest ever player until the rise of current star and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner.

"Italian tennis is mourning an titan. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian enrolled 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 both 1961 and 1964.

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

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