Overview
- He died on December 1 at age 92 after a period of declining health, according to widespread Italian media reports.
- Adriano Panatta recalled their final call and a lifelong bond despite public spats, while Paolo Bertolucci hailed him as “the tennis of Italy” and the captain of the 1976 Davis Cup triumph in Chile.
- He won Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960, amassed a record 164 Davis Cup appearances with 120 wins, and remains a foundational figure of the sport in Italy.
- He alternated praise and barbs for Jannik Sinner, lauding him as Italy’s best while criticizing Davis Cup absences; as of publication Sinner had not issued a public tribute.
- Coverage revisited his private life, including a lifelong friendship with Lea Pericoli, notable relationships such as Licia Colò, the July 2025 death of his son Giorgio, and his stated wish for a funeral at Rome’s Stadio Pietrangeli.