ROME — Lots of of individuals paid their final respects to tennis nice Nicola Pietrangeli days after he handed away on the age of 92.
On Wednesday, a public viewing of Pietrangeli’s physique and a short memorial service had been held on the tennis court docket named in his honor. A personal burial was then deliberate in Rome.
In 2006, the Paracorda Court docket, lined with statues of the Foro Italico, thought-about one of the vital stunning stadiums on the circuit, was renamed Stadio Pietrangeli.
Subsequent to the coffin, which was adorned with blue and white flowers, had been two tennis rackets and the Davis Cup, gained by Italy in 1976 below Pietrangeli’s captaincy.
A big display confirmed footage of Pietrangeli’s profession, set to music by Charles Aznavour, certainly one of Pietrangeli’s favourite singers.
Frank Sinatra’s “My Manner” was performed because the casket was faraway from the courthouse and headed to the church the place the funeral service was held.
“All the pieces was precisely as he wished, the placement, the music,” mentioned his son Marco.
A number of the greatest names in Italian sport had been in attendance, together with former and present presidents of the Italian Nationwide Olympic Committee and the president of the Italian Tennis Federation.
Prince Albert II of Monaco, a longtime buddy of Pietrangeli’s, attended his funeral on the Gran Madre di Dio church in Rome.
“I’ve identified him for years,” he mentioned. “He was an exquisite particular person. I wished to be right here for his household as nicely. It’s extremely emotional. He was all the time there for an important moments of my life.”
Different former tennis gamers had been additionally in attendance, together with Adriano Panatta and Tonino Zugarelli, who gained the Davis Cup with Pietrangeli, and Fabio Fognini, who retired earlier this 12 months.
Nonetheless, the absence of present Italian tennis gamers, particularly Jannik Sinner, was conspicuous.
Pietrangeli was the primary Italian to win a Grand Slam singles trophy at Roland Garros in 1959 and once more in 1960. He additionally holds the file for Davis Cup wins and singles championships with 66 ties from 1954 to 1972. His singles file was 78 wins and 32 losses, and his doubles file was 42 wins and 12 losses.
