Adriano Panatta
Country (sports) | ![]() | |||||||||||
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Residence | Treviso, Italy | |||||||||||
Born | Rome, Italy | 9 July 1950|||||||||||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||
Turned pro | 1969 (amateur from 1968) | |||||||||||
Retired | 1983 | |||||||||||
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) | |||||||||||
Prize money | $776,187 | |||||||||||
Singles | ||||||||||||
Career record | 408–245[1] | |||||||||||
Career titles | 10 | |||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 4 (24 August 1976) | |||||||||||
Grand Slam singles results | ||||||||||||
Australian Open | 1R (1969) | |||||||||||
French Open | W (1976) | |||||||||||
Wimbledon | QF (1979) | |||||||||||
US Open | 4R (1978) | |||||||||||
Other tournaments | ||||||||||||
Tour Finals | RR (1975) | |||||||||||
WCT Finals | QF (1977) | |||||||||||
Doubles | ||||||||||||
Career record | 233–152 | |||||||||||
Career titles | 18 | |||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 15 (24 March 1980) | |||||||||||
Team competitions | ||||||||||||
Davis Cup | W (1976) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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Adriano Panatta (born 9 July 1950) is an Italian former professional tennis player. He won the French Open in 1976, when he became the first Italian man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title.[2] Panatta was also the only player ever to defeat Björn Borg at Roland Garros,[3] doing so twice.
From 2018 to 2021, he was a regular guest of the RAI sport broadcast Quelli che... il Calcio.[4]
Career
Panatta was born in Rome.[5] His father was the caretaker of the Tennis Club Parioli, and as a youngster he learned to play the game on the club's clay courts. He became a successful European junior player before turning professional.
In his early career, Panatta won top-level professional titles at Bournemouth in 1973, Florence in 1974, Kitzbühel and Stockholm in 1975.
The pinnacle of his career arrived in 1976, when he won the French Open defeating Harold Solomon in the final 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6. In the first round he had saved a match point against Czechoslovakian player Pavel Hutka. In the same year he also won the Italian Open, having saved 11 match points in his first round match against the Australian Kim Warwick, and beating Guillermo Vilas in the final (2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 7–6). He finished off 1976 by helping Italy capture its first-ever Davis Cup title, winning two singles and a doubles rubber in the final against Chile. He reached his career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 that year.[6][7]
Panatta is the only player to have defeated Björn Borg at the French Open. He achieved this feat twice – in the fourth round in 1973 (7–6, 2–6, 7–5, 7–6), and in the quarterfinals in 1976 (6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6), where he would go on to win the tournament. He also faced Borg at the semifinal stage of the 1975 tournament; Borg won on this occasion in four sets.[8]
In 1977, Panatta won the World Championship Tennis in Houston, where he defeated Jimmy Connors and Vitas Gerulaitis. He followed this up with another title in Tokyo in 1978.
Panatta was less successful on fast surfaces. On grass courts, he reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1979. He was beaten at that stage by Pat DuPré in five sets (3–6, 6–4, 6–7, 6–4, 6–3).
After the 1976 Davis Cup triumph, Panatta helped Italy reach the Davis Cup final on three further occasions – in 1977, 1979 and 1980. The team lost to Australia in 1977, the United States in 1979, and to Czechoslovakia in 1980. Overall, Panatta compiled a 64–36 Davis Cup record (55–17 on clay).[9]
His final career singles title came in 1980 at Florence. He retired from the professional tour in 1983.
Other sport ventures
After his retirement, Panatta has served as captain of Italy's Davis Cup team,[10] and as tournament director of the Rome Masters.
Panatta also competed in offshore powerboat racing, most specifically in Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.[11] His most successful season was in 1990, where he and his co-driver Antonio Gioffredi would have been world champion had the title not been revoked after the tragic accident that claimed the life of reigning champion Stefano Casiraghi, husband of Caroline, Princess of Hanover.[12]
From 1992 until 2002, Panatta also competed as a rally driver.[13] In 1992 he took part to a World Rally Championship, the Sanremo Rally, in a Peugeot 309 GTI. Panatta's navigator was Enrico Riccardi. They retired after an accident.[14]
Private life
Panatta is an atheist.[15] His younger brother is fellow tennis player Claudio Panatta.
Grand Slam finals
Singles (1 title)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1976 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
Career finals
Singles: 26 (10–16)
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 1971 | Senigallia, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 7–5, 6–1 |
Loss | 1. | 1972 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 8–9, 0–6 |
Loss | 2. | 1972 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() |
5–7, 8–9, 4–6 |
Loss | 3. | 1973 | Valencia, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 4. | 1973 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
1–6, 6–3, 1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 5. | 1973 | Nice, France | Clay | ![]() |
6–7, 7–5, 6–4, 6–7, 10–12 |
Loss | 6. | 1973 | Madrid, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–7, 7–5, 1–6 |
Loss | 7. | 1973 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 6–0, 6–7, 4–6 |
Win | 2. | 1973 | Bournemouth, England | Clay | ![]() |
6–8, 7–5, 6–3, 8–6 |
Win | 3. | 1974 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 6–1[16] |
Loss | 8. | 1974 | Båstad, Sweden | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 0–6, 7–6, 3–6 |
Win | 4. | 1975 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–4 |
Loss | 9. | 1975 | Madrid, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 6–7, 2–6 |
Loss | 10. | 1975 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–7, 3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 5. | 1975 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 11. | 1975 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
Win | 6. | 1976 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
Win | 7. | 1976 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
Loss | 12. | 1976 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() |
5–7, 7–6, 1–6, 3–6 |
Win | 8. | 1977 | Houston WCT, United States | Clay | ![]() |
7–6, 6–7, 6–1 |
Loss | 13. | 1978 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Win | 9. | 1978 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 14. | 1978 | Bologna Indoor, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
2–6, 6–7 |
Win | 10. | 1980 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 15. | 1980 | Geneva, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 16. | 1980 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 6–7 |
Doubles: 28 (18–10)
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 1973 | Florence | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 2. | 1974 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
Win | 3. | 1974 | Båstad, Sweden | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 4. | 1974 | São Paulo WCT, Brazil | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-5, 3-6, 6-3 |
Loss | 1. | 1975 | Richmond WCT | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7, 7–5, 6–7 |
Win | 5. | 1975 | Bologna Indoor, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 2. | 1975 | Barcelona WCT, Spain | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 1–6 |
Win | 6. | 1975 | London WCT, England | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 7. | 1975 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2, 7–6 |
Win | 8. | 1975 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6, 6–7, 6–4 |
Loss | 3. | 1976 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 4. | 1976 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 5. | 1977 | Mexico City WCT, Mexico | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 3–6 |
Win | 9. | 1977 | St. Louis WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 7–6 |
Win | 10. | 1977 | London WCT, England | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 11. | 1977 | Houston WCT, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 6. | 1977 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
Loss | 7. | 1977 | Masters Doubles WCT, Kansas City | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7, 6–7, 6–4, 3–6 |
Win | 12. | 1978 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Loss | 8. | 1979 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, 6–7 |
Win | 13. | 1979 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 14. | 1979 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 15. | 1980 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 5–7, 6–3 |
Loss | 9. | 1980 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 4–6 |
Win | 16. | 1980 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 17. | 1981 | Nancy, France | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 10. | 1981 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Win | 18. | 1982 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6, 6–1 |
Singles performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Tournament | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | SR | W–L | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | |||
French Open | 1R | 4R | 3R | QF | SF | 2R | SF | W | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | A | 1 / 14 | 34–13 | |||
Wimbledon | Q1 | 1R | 3R | 3R | A | 3R | 3R | 3R | 2R | A | QF | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 9 | 17–9 | |||
US Open | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | A | A | 2R | 3R | 4R | 1R | A | 3R | A | A | 0 / 7 | 10–7 | |||
Win–loss | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–3 | 7–2 | 2–2 | 7–2 | 10–2 | 7–3 | 4–2 | 6–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1 / 31 | 61–30 | |||
Other | ||||||||||||||||||||
Italian Open | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | W | QF | F | QF | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | 1 / 15 | 27–14 | |||
Ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year-end ranking | – | – | – | – | 14 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 34 | 39 | 76 |
See also
References
- ^ The statistics differ from those provided by the official ATP website. The ATP site only partially lists Davis Cup matches played between 1977 and 1981, attributing only 22 match wins to Panatta instead of 37. Additionally, the ATP site incorrectly categorizes the 1981 Venice ATP tournament, where Panatta reached the quarter-finals, as a "Challenger." It also lists the 1968 Adelaide and Brisbane tournaments as "Open."
- ^ "Adriano Panatta wins Roland-Garros after saving match point". Tennis Majors. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Panatta Topples Borg". New York Times. 10 June 1976. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Quelli che il calcio, nuova edizione: presentatori, ospiti e cast" (in Italian). calciotoday.it. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Adriano Panatta Career Haighlighs". gptcatennis.org. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Adriano Panatta". atptour.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "The legend of Adriano Panatta". amillionsteps.velasca.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "June 13, 1976: The day Adriano Panatta completed a miraculous title run at Roland-Garros". tennismajors.com. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
Panatta would remain the only player to ever defeat the Swede at Roland-Garros.
- ^ "Italy in Final On Panatta's Cup Victory". nytimes.com. 28 September 1976. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Adriano Panatta". sportspundit.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
He served as Captain of the Davis Cup team after his retirement...
- ^ "Powerboat P1, Adriano Panatta punta al record sulla Venezia-Montecarlo" (in Italian). mondonauticablog.com. 23 June 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Sull'onda del massimo brivido" (in Italian). formulapassion.it. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
Nel 1990 il campionato non venne assegnato – quando si sarebbe dovuta disputare la 3ª ed ultima manche che avrebbe assegnato il titolo all'equipaggio Adriano Panatta e Antonio Gioffredi – in segno di lutto per la morte del campione in carica Stefano Casiraghi, marito di Carolina di Monaco.
- ^ "Adriano Panatta". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "RALLY: PANATTA A SANREMO CON PEUGEOT 309" (in Italian). adnkronos.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Giordano, Lucio (30 December 2022). "Ringrazio Dio di avermi dato un fratello, Adriano Panatta". Dipiù (in Italian). No. 52. pp. 86–89.
- ^ "ATP: SINNER-TRAVAGLIA, SETTIMO DERBY AZZURRO IN FINALE. I PRECEDENTI" (in Italian). federtennis.it. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.