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

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