Before it was Jannik Sinner, it was Nicola Pietrangeli, the Italian star known for his elegant play and beautiful groundstrokes. On December 1st, he passed away at the age of 92, to a shower of tributes from the tennis world remembering him not just for winning the French Open twice or leading Italy to the Davis Cup title in 1976, but for the way he inspired generations of Italian players. And now, Rafael Nadal has honored that legacy by sharing a heartfelt message for a man who inspired so many in tennis.

Nadal was among the first tennis stars to share his grief. Along with the message, he shared a picture of a special moment with Pietrangeli. On the left, Rafael Nadal is holding the French Open trophy, wearing a light green jacket, all smiles after the triumph; on the right, Pietrange

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