The following is the biography of Pietrangeli written by the one and only tennis journalist and personality Bud Collins from his book “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” which you can purchase or download here: https://a.co/d/j1OVS0O
Nicola Pietrangeli was Mr. Davis Cup
Nicola “Nicky” Pietrangeli was Signor Davis Cup. That team competition seemed his private domain, although he won his only cup from the sidelines in 1976 as non-playing captain of Italy. Before that, as a smooth player, he twice won against the French: 1959 against Ian Vermaak of South Africa, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, and 1960 against Luis Ayala of Chile, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6. 6-3 – he had made his name synonymous with Italy. He did it in the Davis Cup by playing
(164) and winning (120) matches, more than anyone before or since during a cup career that lasted from 1954 to 1972. In 66 series for his country he was 78-32 in singles, 42-12 in doubles.
Twice he carried Italy all the way to the cup match, in 1960 and 1961, but on alien turf in Australia and during the reign of Australian superpowers. He and his 6-foot-4 accomplice Orlando Sirola couldn’t get closer to the Cup than a good look. But to get there they achieved one of Italy’s greatest victories in 1960, 3-2 from 0-2 down, over the USA in the semi-final in 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, perhaps the best doubles team developed in post-World War II Europe, hit back to beat Chuck McKinley and Butch Buchholz, 3-6, 10-8, 6-4, 13-11 – seemingly alone but to prolong their distress. But Pietrangeli stopped Buchholz 6-1, 6-2, 6-8, 3-6, 6-4, and Sirola took the lead over MacKay 9-7, 6-3, 8-6.
Pietrangeli was too much for the US to overcome in the following year’s semi-final in Rome, when he defeated both Whitney Reed, 2-6, 6-8, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, and Jack Douglas, 9-7, 6-3, 6-2, and also teamed triumphantly with Sirola again in a 4-1 victory. But in the two finals, only Pietrangeli’s meaningless victory over Neale Fraser on the third day could be salvaged as Australia won 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.
All-round artist
Solidly built, with exceptional instincts for the game and anticipation, the 6-foot-2 Nicky was an all-round performer who moved with grace and purpose. He appeared in four French finals, losing to Manolo Santana in 1961 and 1964, and to four Italian ones, beating compatriot Beppe Merlo 8-6, 6-2, 6-4 in 1957, and Rod Laver 6-8, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 1961. His best performance outside compatible clay was a Wimbledon semi-final in 1960, losing to Laver, 4-6, 6-3, 8-10, 6-2, 6-4. He had an amateur-era career in which he won 53 singles titles and was ranked in the Top 10 in the world five times between 1957 and 1964, ranking No. 3 in 1959 and 1960. After retiring from the court, he led Italy to the Cup Round twice. He defeated Chile in 1976 but lost to Australia in 1977.
A right-hander born on September 11, 1933 in Tunis, he is a bon vivant, always popular with fans and colleagues. He and Sirola were the biggest winners of the Cup doubles teams, 34-8.
IMPORTANT TITLES (4) – French singles, 1959, 1960; French doubles, 1959; French mixed, 1958.
DAVIS HEAD—1954-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69,71-72, 78-32 singles, 42-12 doubles.
SINGLE RECORD IN THE MAJORS—Australian (2-1), French (46-12), Wimbledon (29-18), USA. (5-3).
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