Nicola Pietrangeli, a final salute to Lea Pericoli

The Words of Pietrangeli

Nicola Pietrangeli paid tribute to Lea Pericoli on the day of her passing: "I was the first to know. Her sister called me three minutes later".

"For me è died a sister, a life companion, she was a beautiful thing – he explained to ANSA -. One has to die to be a little bit recognized. Of her I remember, more than the tennis player her class. She was a great lady, one should remember her as a lady of other times. What would I like to say to her? Goodbye, wait for me and book the table".

"The last time we saw each other was last year at the Finals in Turin. Then Lea had kind of closed in on herself", recalled Pietrangeli, often courtside at her side.
 

"I suffer becauseé he will not even be able to go to the funeral. He willò be criticized, but I hope people will understand", he concluded.