Alberto di Monaco interview: “Pietrangeli, I’ll tell you who he was”

“The first memory I have of Nicola is from 1968, when he won his third title here in Monte Carlo. I was ten years old and logically I still had an immature idea of ​​sport, but I liked tennis. It was one of the family passions, first of all that of my father”. Thus Prince Albert of Monaco begins his memory of Pietrangeli, a champion and close friend who accompanied him for more than half a century. Nicola had started attending the tennis courts of the Principality in 1955, long before his birth, and had frequented his father Rainier III, becoming his friend. For this reason he was at home in Monte Carlo, where he never missed a tournament, it was for him an unmissable family event. “The pain of the loss perhaps makes you forget many details – continued Alberto di Monaco –, but our friendship was profound”.

When did you teach her to play tennis?

“He wasn’t a master, he was the best you could have as a tennis teacher. Brilliant, nice, ironic. You learned happily.”

Have you become a good player?

“Normal, I partnered with him in doubles. He also told me during the match how to hit the ball better. He had a lot of patience.”

Have you ever played against him?

“Only in doubles, but he always beat us. I enjoyed being on his side of the court more. I never tried in singles, it would have been sporting suicide.”

Even when he was already advanced in age?

“He always had a sharp shot, a phenomenal racket stroke that amazed you. His natural talent was enormous. An ageless champion. But tennis wasn’t the only thing for him. We also often played football. He had the Roma Rowing Club team and we had ours. We also went away against them. It was very nice.”

There was also a lot of talk about golf.

“Of course, we didn’t miss anything in company. He had an incredible talent for any sport that involved a ball or a ball, but he was interested in everything. He was curious like every great champion. If you think about it carefully, all champions have one thing in common: curiosity. They always want to discover new things, because sport is continuous evolution.”

Pietrangeli also lived in Monte Carlo.

“Yes, for some time. The holidays. He always called and we went to lunch together. Every time he had something new to tell. He liked to amaze and on every occasion he also had a new joke, a funny story. As I said, he was a person of contagious kindness.”

“No, he was a true gentleman, I never heard him say a negative word about anyone. He had that gift of elegant irony, as I said. The conversations were always lively and interesting. You were never bored with him.”

What sporting legacy does he leave?

“I believe that Nicola did a lot for Italian sport, he was a symbol. He also opened new paths with his successes. This must be recognized for him. He was a man of class and open to the world. Now tennis in Italy is at the top, he was the first to win important stages of the Grand Slam. He was a precursor”.

Will you go to his funeral?

“If I can, I will definitely be there. I’m waiting for them to tell me the details. I don’t want to miss out on greeting a sincere and dear friend.”