Nicola Pietrangeli
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.
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 court
s 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).
Runner-ups (2)
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
) is a former tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He is considered by many to be Italy's greatest-ever tennis champion.
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
Orlando Sirola
Orlando Sirola was a tennis player from Italy.Sirola was born in Fiume, today the Croatian city of Rijeka. He only began playing tennis at the age of 22. Despite his late start, he achieved some notable successes....
), and the mixed doubles in 1958. At Wimbledon, Pietrangeli was a single semifinalist in 1960
1960 Wimbledon Championships - Men's Singles
Neale Fraser defeated Rod Laver 6–4 3–6 9–7 7–5 in the final to win the Gentlemen's Singles title at the 1960 Wimbledon Championships.See also:-Seeds:The seeded players are listed below...
, when he lost to Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
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
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
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 court
Grass court
A grass court is one of the four different types of tennis court. Grass courts are made of rye grass in different compositions depending on the tournament...
s in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and the Italians were not able to overcome the strong Australian team which included Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
, Roy Emerson
Roy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male...
and Neale Fraser
Neale Fraser
Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US...
.
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
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1986. On his 73rd birthday, the old tennis stadium
Rome Masters
The Italian Open is an annual tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy. It is the most prestigious red clay tennis tournament in the world after the French Open, with the men's competition being an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour, and the women's...
in Foro Italico
Foro Italico
Foro Italico is a sports complex in Rome, Italy. It was built between 1928 and 1938 as the Foro Mussolini under the design of Enrico Del Debbio and, later, Luigi Moretti...
of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
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).
Singles: 4 (2-2)
Wins (2)| Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1959 | French Championships |  Ian VermaakIan Vermaak Ian Vermaak was a tennis player competing for South Africa. He finished runner-up to Nicola Pietrangeli in the singles final of the Amateur French Championships of Roland-Garros in 1959, after having reached earlier in the season the Hamburg International German Tennis Championships final, losing... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1960 | French Championships |  Luis AyalaLuis Ayala (tennis) Luis Alberto Ayala Salinas is a former Chilean world-ranked tennis player who competed in the 1950s and 1960s. When he retired, he became a tennis professional at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. Currently, he is the Director of Tennis at the Forest Club in Houston, Texas.-Grand slams:... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Runner-ups (2)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1961 | French Championships |  Manuel SantanaManuel Santana Manuel Martínez Santana, best known as Manolo Santana, is a former tennis champion from Spain. He was born in Madrid.... |
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)| Year | Championship | Partner | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1959 | French Championships |  Orlando SirolaOrlando Sirola Orlando Sirola was a tennis player from Italy.Sirola was born in Fiume, today the Croatian city of Rijeka. He only began playing tennis at the age of 22. Despite his late start, he achieved some notable successes.... |
 Roy EmersonRoy Emerson Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male... Neale FraserNeale Fraser Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US... |
6–3, 6–2, 14–12 |
Mixed doubles: 1 (1-0)
Wins (1)| Year | Championship | Partner | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1958 | French Championships |  Shirley Bloomer |
Lorraine Coghlan Bob Howe Robert Howe (tennis) Robert Howe is an Australian former tennis player. He won the Wimbledon mixed doubles championship in 1958.-References:... |
8–6, 6–2 |