'My Way:' Hundreds honor the late tennis great Nicola Pietrangeli at Rome memorial

ROME (AP) — Hundreds of people paid their final respects to Nicola Pietrangeli days after the tennis great died aged 92.

A public viewing of Pietrangeli’s body and a brief memorial service were held Wednesday at the tennis court that was named after him. A private funeral took place later in Rome.

In 2006, the statue-lined Pallacorda court at the Foro Italico — considered one of the most picturesque stadiums on the circuit — was renamed Stadio Pietrangeli.

Two tennis rackets and the Davis Cup won by Italy in 1976 under Pietrangeli’s captaincy were placed next to the coffin, which was decorated in blue and white flowers.

A large screen displayed images of Pietrangeli’s career accompanied by the music of Charles Aznavour, one of his favorite singers.

“My Way,” by Frank Sinatra, played at the end of the memorial service, before the coffin was moved from the court to the church for the funeral.

“Everything just as he wanted, the place and the music,” said his son Marco.

Prominent figures of Italian sport attended, including the former and current president of the Italian national Olympic committee as well as the head of the Italian tennis federation.

Prince Albert II of Monaco, a longtime friend of Pietrangeli, was present at his funeral, at the Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio in Rome.

“I knew him for many years,” he said. “He was a splendid man. I really wanted to be here also for his family, I am very emotional. He was always there in the most important moments of my life.”

Adriano Panatta and Tonino Zugarelli, who won the Davis Cup with Pietrangeli, were also present as were other former tennis players including Fabio Fognini, who retired earlier this year.

Noticeably absent, however, were current Italian tennis players — especially Jannik Sinner.

Pietrangeli was the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles trophy, at the French Championships in 1959 and repeated in 1960. He also holds the Davis Cup record for total wins and singles wins from 66 ties from 1954-72. His singles record was 78-32 and his doubles record was 42-12.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The coffin of Nicola Pietrangeli, Italian tennis champion of the 1950s and 1960s, is laid at the Pietrangeli tennis court at the Foro Italico ahead of the funeral service in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The coffin of Nicola Pietrangeli, Italian tennis champion of the 1950s and 1960s, is laid at the Pietrangeli tennis court at the Foro Italico ahead of the funeral service in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Son, Filippo Pietrangeli, lays a tennis racket as the coffin of Italian tennis champion of the 1950s and 1960s Nicola Pietrangeli is laid at the Pietrangeli tennis court at the Foro Italico ahead of the funeral service in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The coffin of Nicola Pietrangeli, Italian tennis champion of the 1950s and 1960s, is laid at the Pietrangeli tennis court at the Foro Italico ahead of the funeral service in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The coffin of Nicola Pietrangeli, Italian tennis champion of the 1950s and 1960s, is laid at the Pietrangeli tennis court at the Foro Italico ahead of the funeral service in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistanis faced record fuel price increases Friday, as petrol and diesel prices rose by up to 54% driven by the war in the Middle East that has caused global oil prices to surge.

The increase adds pressure to a cash-strapped nation already grappling with high inflation, as economists warned the hike would push up food prices and living costs.

Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Pervez Malik said late Thursday that the increase was “unavoidable.” He said the government was compelled to raise petrol prices by 137 rupees (49 cents) per liter, following a 20% increase last month.

Diesel prices were increased overnight by 184.49 rupees (67 cents) per liter, a rise of about 54.9%.

Malik said the adjustments were “necessary and unavoidable” in line with global market trends, adding that the government plans to subsidize fuel for motorcyclists, though a mechanism has yet to be finalized. Motorcycles overwhelmingly outnumber cars in Pakistan, accounting for nearly 78% of all vehicles on the road, as they are among the most affordable modes of commuting.

On Friday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said public transport in Islamabad will be free for 30 days from Saturday on the prime minister’s instructions, and his ministry will cover the fuel costs.

Pakistan in recent weeks has used alternate routes to get oil due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The unprecedented price increase came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said regional instability had affected Pakistan’s fragile economy. He said the government was pursuing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and encourage dialogue between the parties involved.

Pakistan has offered to host peace talks, though no dates have been announced for any such meetings in Islamabad.

However, for many citizens, the impact of the ongoing tensions and recent fuel price increases was immediate, with households and commuters bracing for higher transportation and daily living costs.

“It’s not just gas,” said Mohammad Zain Alvi, a commuter waiting for a bus in Islamabad. “Life was already very difficult for us, and now everything will become more expensive.”

Across major cities Friday, fuel stations were unusually quiet and traffic noticeably lighter as many people stayed home, unable or unwilling to bear the higher costs. At some stations, customers stood in silence after hearing the new rates.

“We have nothing to do with the war,” said Azhar Ali, a junior government employee who uses an old motorcycle to commute from Rawalpindi to Islamabad. “Why are we being made to pay for it? This will affect everything — transport, food, our entire lives.”

In the northwestern city of Peshawar, motorcycle rider Sher Khan said he was uncertain how he would continue working after the spike in fuel prices. He delivers food in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“I earn so little for each ride, and now most of it will go into fuel,” he told The Associated Press.

Jabran Sarfraz, a prominent economist in Karachi, said the immediate burden would fall on consumers, warning that higher fuel prices would raise the cost of daily necessities and disproportionately affect lower-income groups. He said the duration of the impact would depend on how quickly global prices ease.

__

Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan.

Motorcyclists crowd into a filling station as they wait their turn to buy fuel, in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

Motorcyclists crowd into a filling station as they wait their turn to buy fuel, in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

A motorcyclist looks at the display at a fuel station as he buys fuel after the government increased fuel prices amid surging global oil prices due to the Iran war, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)

A motorcyclist buys fuel after the government increased fuel prices amid surging global oil prices due to the Iran war, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)

A worker fills fuel into a motorbike after the government increased fuel prices amid surging global oil prices due to the Iran war, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)