Nicola Pietrangeli

The Story of Nicola Pietrangeli

Nicola Pietrangeli was born on September 11, 1933, in Tunis, then part of the French protectorate in Tunisia, to an Italian father and a Russian mother. His childhood was marked by a deep love for sports and a natural talent for tennis, a discipline in which he would leave an indelible mark. After World War II, moving to Italy, Pietrangeli devoted himself wholeheartedly to his tennis career, soon becoming the symbol of an entire generation of Italian athletes.

His refined and technical game, characterized by an elegant backhand and remarkable agility on clay courts, allowed him to quickly climb the international rankings. In 1959, Nicola made history by winning his first title at Roland Garros, a triumph he repeated the following year, in 1960, becoming the first and only Italian to win the prestigious Parisian tournament. This achievement established him among the greats of world tennis, representing a moment of national pride during a time when Italian sports sought its identity on the international stage.

Career and Achievements

Beyond his two prestigious Roland Garros titles, Pietrangeli won numerous national and international tournaments, collecting a total of 22 Italian national titles, seven of which in singles. His dominance on court also extended to the 1963 Mediterranean Games, where he won the gold medal in singles and a bronze medal in doubles.

Playing Style

Nicola Pietrangeli was renowned for his elegant and sophisticated playing style. His one-handed backhand is considered one of the most beautiful in tennis history, described as “unreadable” by critics like Gianni Clerici. He favored clay courts, where he maximized his talent through a combination of precision, tactics, and great ball control sensitivity.

Awards and Honors

• First Italian tennis player inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986.
• Holder of the world record for most Davis Cup match wins (120 out of 164 matches).
• Inducted into the Italian Sport Walk of Fame in 2015, honoring the most influential athletes in the history of national sport.
• Awarded the “Golden Crab” as Italy’s most elegant athlete.