The tennis world is mourning as it bids farewell to one of its brightest icons, Lea Pericoli, who passed away at 89. Her passing has sent waves of sadness through the tennis fraternity, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from all corners. Italian star Jannik Sinner expressed his deep sorrow, acknowledging Pericoli’s lasting legacy, Rafael Nadal also shared his grief, honoring the impact she had on tennis both on and off the court. Now, Chris Evert took to social media to pay a warm tribute to Pericoli, reflecting on her contribution to the sport.

Pericoli passed away on October 4th, and since then, tributes have poured in from all across the globe. The former WTA star was one of the country’s top players during the 1950s and 60s. She reached the last 16 twice in the French Open and thrice at Wimbledon, which was one of the significant achievements of her time. She was also referred to as “the mother to all of us” by the President of the Italian Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi, and later became a popular television presenter and journalist. Evert too, highlighted her great traits in her tribute to Pericoli.

Taking to her X, Evert expressed her sentiments for the Italian legend. “RIP Lea Pericoli, a wonderful, warm, and stylish Italian tennis great of the 50’s and 60’s. Always had kind words for me and my generation… Never to be forgotten ,” she wrote. Evert’s statement highlights the admiration that Pericoli gained throughout her life, a major credit for which can be attributed to her forward-thinking personality.

The late Italian legend often discussed the evolution of the sport and how it was different during her time. “We didn’t get a penny to play; it wouldn’t even have been conceivable. Now these guys earn a lot. Lucky them! But I don’t want to belittle anyone. There are more aspects to take care of now, but in the end, it’s easier.” It’s for this perspective and elegance the tennis world has united to pay tribute to her.

Earlier, World No. 1 and Italian star Jannik Sinner also expressed his grief over the demise of Pericoli. Sinner posted a picture of himself with Pericoli on his Instagram story and captioned it, “A special moment I’ll remember forever. A great woman and a legend of Italian tennis,” in Italian. Similar reactions followed from Nadal as well, who shared a post on his social media platform and wrote, “Thank you for everything. You will always be remembered by all of us.”

While Pericoli often highlighted the difference between her playing days and the current scenario, she was all praises for the Italian dynamo, Sinner.

Jannik Sinner has given a fresh perspective to the budding players, and his contributions to Italian tennis are certainly immense. Because of this and his successful beginning to his career even legends like Lea Pericoli could not help but praise him for his undeniable talent on the courts.

Speaking in an interview, Pericoli opened up about the changes in sport that have taken place over the years. She talked about the progress of Italian tennis and said, “I brought elegance, determination, and smiles to the court. Sinner? It’s unique.”

She admired Sinner’s talent and dedication and reflected on how she aimed for elegance on the court while embracing a playful spirit. “With my short skirts, I didn’t want to provoke, but I was experimenting. Now there’s a bit of fun missing. Jannik isn’t just good; he’s a champion.” 

Pericoli’s demise indeed brought moments of sorrow for the community and left a void that cannot be filled easily. Her legacy would certainly resonate within the hearts of tennis fans worldwide.