Time takes its toll on everyone, and elite athletes are no exception. After retiring from professional play, many tennis stars face lingering pain—and for Nicola Pietrangeli, the iconic Italian who dominated the sport with decades-defining victories, that pain is all too real.
To put his career in perspective, Pietrangeli was considered Italy’s greatest player of all time—until recently, when Jannik Sinner emerged as the new star. Now 91 years old, Pietrangeli opened up in an exclusive interview with SuperTennis about the daily consequences of competing at the highest level for 15 seasons.
His first words were stark: “That’s life: painful and boring”. But the two-time Roland Garros champion (1959, 1960) elaborated, sharing a candid confession that resonated deeply: “I want a day without pain. This pain I suffer keeps me from moving”.
The discomfort plagues his lower back near the sacrum. Expanding on his struggles, Pietrangeli admitted, “They’ve tried everything. My friends call me to play cards, but I need to rest.” He added, “Even though I spend the whole day in bed, I don’t get a day of relief from this pain”.
Fabio Fognini of Italy holds his winners trophy with the last Italian winner of the tournament in 1968 Nicola Pietrangeli. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Pietrangeli holds the record for most Davis Cup wins, cementing his status as a true legend of the historic tournament. He was also often seen supporting Italy’s top players, particularly in tennis, forming a close bond with Fabio Fognini—famously jumping onto the clay to hand Fognini his trophy after the Monte Carlo Masters victory.
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Reflecting on life as he nears 92, Pietrangeli didn’t hold back: “I’m tired. Tired of being tired. I don’t know what I’ll be like in two weeks. It won’t change anything”. He added with grim humor, “I’m like a worm. I watch TV, I watch Netflix, and even just holding the remote, I get in the way”.
Pietrangeli opens up about mental health
When it comes to his mental state, Pietrangeli didn’t hold back. “My mind slips a little. I can remember things I did 50 years ago, but not what I did the day before yesterday,” he said at first. Moments later, he added a sobering reflection that left listeners stunned: “I feel like any day, it just won’t work anymore”.
The former bronze medalist at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, who retired just five years later, made clear the toll these lingering pains have taken on his life. The interview ended as poignantly as it began. “As my son says: ‘I’ve beaten cancer, but not old age,’” Pietrangeli concluded.
