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Lea Pericoli wearing a Victorian lace tennis outfit by Teddy Tinling at Wimbledon in 1970
Lea Pericoli, Italian tennis star of the 1950s and 60s, has died aged 89.
Regarded as one of her country's top players, she reached the last 16 of the French Open twice and the Wimbledon championships three times.
Pericoli, who was born on 22 March 1935 in Milan, later became a popular television presenter and journalist, but it was contest outfits adorned with feather and fur that made her an icon.
"She was a bit like the mother to all of us," Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, told local media.
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Playing a forehand return to María Josefa de Riba of Spain during their Women's Singles Second Round match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 21 June 1955 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, England. María Josefa de Riba won the match
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Wearing a tennis dress trimmed with feathers, designed by British sportswear designer Teddy Tinling on 23 June 1964.
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Pictured holding an umbrella on a court during the 1965 Wimbledon Championships on 23 June 1965
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Serving to Billie Jean Moffitt of the US during their Women's Singles Quarter Final match at the third edition of the Federation Cup on 16th January 1965 at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Australia. Billie Jean Moffitt won the match 6 - 1, 6 - 2
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Posing in a feathered outfit on court in the UK, 23 June 1968
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Pericoli (left) and Carol Kalogeropoulos of Greece, modeling Dacron outfits by inling at a press preview of the designer's new tennis wear collection at the Belvedere Restaurant in Holland Park, London, 22 June 1970. Percoli is wearing a flaring shift dress with fine pleated trim and gold and pearl decorations. Kalogeropoulos wears a bare-midriff-effect outfit of see-through mini dress, covering a lace half-slip and bra, and silver guipure shorts
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Attending the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2019 in Monaco
English (US) ·