(ANSA) – ROME, 04 OCTOBER – Lea Pericoli, 89 years old, the ‘lady’ of Italian tennis, has died. Federtennis announces it. Lady on the court, queen on the court and master of elegance, she was one of the first women to talk about tennis in newspapers and on TV after playing it at the highest levels. Class and style have characterized its entire history. The story of the record-breaking champion of Italian tennis, with 27 titles in the national championships in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. In Grand Slam tournaments, he reached the round of 16 four times at Roland Garros (1955, 1960, 1964 and 1971) and three times on the grass at Wimbledon (1965, 1967 and 1970). Number 1 in Italy for 14 years between 1959 and 1976, an absolute record, and number 2 for another four times (1960, 1961, 1962 and 1973). He played 29 matches for the national team, with a record of eight wins in singles and six in doubles. At the Italian Internationals she was a semi-finalist in 1967, reached the quarter-finals 4 times (1959, 1962, 1969 and 1971) and the round of 16 8 times (1953, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1970 and 1972). . She played five doubles finals alongside Silvana Lazzarino (from 1962 to 1965 and in 1967). With her, he inaugurated the Italian team in London in 1963. His life was an adventure, which began in Addis Ababa, where his father moved the family following the Ethiopian War. He is the one who gave her the first racket. A long love affair with tennis began, which continued in Kenya, where she was sent to study, and then around the world. At 17, while on holiday in Versiglia where Paolo Bertolucci’s father taught, he understands that his love can become something more and chooses tennis as a career. “Whoever tries to become a champion fights a constant war: it is a very educational sport that has taught me a lot” he said. With the same spirit he challenged prejudices, faced and defeated two tumors: uterine carcinoma in 1973 and breast cancer in 2012. President Angelo Binaghi and the entire Italian tennis movement embrace his family with affection in this moment of great pain. (HANDLE).
2024-10-06 21:45:26