From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicola "Nicky" Pietrangeli (born September 11,
1933, in Tunis, Tunisia) is a former tennis player from Italy. He is considered by many to
be Italy's greatest-ever tennis champion.
Nicola Pietrangeli.
Pietrangeli appeared in four men's singles finals at Roland Garros – winning
the title in 1959 and 1960, and finishing runner-up in 1961 and 1964. He also won the Roland Garros men's doubles
title in 1959 (together with Orlando Sirola), and the mixed doubles
in 1958. At Wimbledon, Pietrangeli was a single
semifinalist in 1960, when he lost to Rod Laver in 5 sets (6–4, 3–6, 8-10, 6–2,
6–4). He won the Internazionali
d'Italia in 1957 and 1961.
Pietrangeli represented Italy in the Davis Cup between 1954 and 1972. He
played in a record 164 Davis Cup rubbers, winning a record 120. He
was a player on the Italian teams which reached the Davis Cup final
in 1960 and 1961. Both finals were played on grass courts in Australia, and the Italians were not able to
overcome the strong Australian team which included Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser.
After retiring as a player, Pietrangeli became Italy's Davis Cup
team captain and guided them to winning their first-ever Davis Cup
in 1976.
Pietrangeli was inducted in the International Tennis Hall
of Fame in 1986. On his 73rd
birthday, the old tennis stadium in Foro Italico of Rome was named in his honour; he is
among the very few tennis players to have received such an honour
while still living (others include Laver and Margaret
Court).
Grand Slam
finals
Singles: 4
(2-2)
- Wins (2)
- Runner-ups (2)
| Year |
Championship |
Opponent in final |
Score in final |
| 1961 |
French Championships |
 Manuel
Santana |
4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1964 |
French Championships |
Manuel
Santana |
6–3, 6–1, 4–6, 7–5 |
Doubles: 1
(1-0)
- Wins (1)
Mixed
doubles: 1 (1-0)
- Wins (1)
External
links
Ian Vermaak
Luis
Ayala
Orlando
Sirola
Roy Emerson
Shirley Bloomer
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