Nicola Pietrangeli “Nicky”
Born: September 11, 1933
Hometown: Tunis, Tunisia
Citizenship: Italy
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1986
Grand Slam Record
French Singles 1959, 60
Singles finalist 1961, 64
Doubles 1959
Doubles finalist 1955
Mixed 1958
Wimbledon Doubles finalist 1956
Tournament Record
Italian Singles 1957, 61
Singles finalist 1958, 66
Doubles 1960
Doubles finalist 1955-57, 59, 61, 63, 66
Davis Cup Team Member 1954-69, 1971, 72
Nicola “Nicky” Pietrangeli was Signor Davis Cup. That team competition seemed Nicky’s private preserve, although he won his only Cup from the sidelines as Italy’s non-playing captain in 1976. Before that, as a smooth touch operator, winner of the French (1957 over Beppe Merlo, 1961 over Rod Laver), he had made his name synonymous with Italy. He did it in Davis Cup by playing (164) and winning (120) more matches than anyone before or since during a Cup career that reached from 1954 through 1972. In 66 ties for his country he was 78-32 in singles, 42-12 in doubles.
Twice he carried Italy all the way to the Cup round, 1960 and 1961, but on alien grass in Australia, and during the reign of Aussie powerhouses, he and 6-foot-7 accomplice Orlando Sirola were unable to come closer to the Cup than a good look. Still, to get there in 1960 they pulled off one of Italy’s greatest victories, 3-2 from 0-2, over the U.S. in the semifinal at Perth. Despite their discomfort on grass, Pietrangeli–he had squandered eight match points in losing to Barry MacKay, 8-6, 3-6, 8-10, 8-6, 13-11–and Sirola, the finest doubles team developed in post-War II Europe, struck back to beat Chuck McKinley and Butch Buchholz, 3-6, 10-8, 6-4, 13-11, seemingly only to prolong their distress. But Pietrangeli stopped Buchholz, 6-1, 6-2, 6-8, 3-6, 6-4, and Sirola clinched, 9-7, 6-3, 8-6, over MacKay.
Pietrangeli was too much for the U.S. to overcome in the following year’s semi at Rome as he beat both Whitney Reed and Jack Douglas, teamed with Sirola again triumphantly in a 4-1 victory. But in the two finales, only Pietrangeli’s win over Neale Fraser could be salvaged as Australia won, 5-0 and 4-1.
Solidly built, possessing exceptional instincts for the game and anticipation, 5-foot-11 Nicky was an all-around performer who moved with grace and purpose. He was in four French finals, losing to Manolo Santana in 1961 and 1964, and four Italian. His best showing away from compatible clay was a 1960 Wimbledon semifinal which he lost to Laver, 6-4 in the fifth. His was a career of the amateur era during which he won 53 singles titles and was in the World Top Ten five times between 1957 and 1964, No. 3 in 1959 and 1960. Retired from the court, he captained Italy to the Cup round twice, defeating Chile but losing to Australia in 1977. A right-hander, born September 11, 1933, in Tunis, he is a bon vivant, ever popular with fans and colleagues. He and Sirola were the biggest winners teams, 34-8.
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