Jannik Sinner movingly remembers Lea Pericoli

Jannik Sinner’s condolence message

Jannik Sinner è joined the condolences for the death of Lea Pericoli through a touching message posted on his Instagram profile.

"A special moment that she will remember forever. A great Lady and legend of Italian tennis" these are the sweet words of the world number one.

Born in Milan on March 22, 1935, Lea Pericoli spent her childhood in Addis Ababa, where her father Filippo moved after the Ethiopian War and then, after World War II, there’s a further move to Asmara. Lea then studied in Nairobi, Kenya, until, at 17, she returned to Italy.

Her career è was endless: è lasted until she was over 40 years old, and for 14, from 1959 to 1976, è she was number one in Italy. She won a whopping 27 national titles, 10 in singles, 11 in doubles and 6 in mixed doubles. She won 13 tournaments, the most important of which were in the Porro Lambertenghia Lesa Cup in 1960 and 1962, in Palermo in 1962 and in Monte Carlo in 1963.

At the Internazionali d’Italia, paired with Silvana Lazzarino, è reached the finals from 1962 to 1965 and in 1967, while in singles as her best result she reached the semifinals in 1967. In Grand Slam tournaments, on the other hand è landed four times in the round of 16 at Roland Garros (1955, 1960, 1964 and 1971) and three times on the grass of Wimbledon (1965, 1967 and 1970).