Adriano Panatta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Adriano Panatta (born 9 July 1950) is an Italian former professional tennis player. He won the French Open in 1976, becoming the first Italian man in the Open Era to win a major singles title.[1] Panatta was also the only player ever to defeat Björn Borg at Roland Garros,[2] doing so twice.

From 2018 to 2021, he was a regular guest of the RAI sport broadcast Quelli che... il Calcio.[3]

Career

Panatta was born in Rome.[4] 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.[5][6] Panatta remained the highest-ranking Italian tennis player in history until February 2024, when Jannik Sinner became No. 3;[7] Sinner went on to rank No. 1.[8]

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.[9]

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, especially on grass. His best performance at Wimbledon was in 1979, when he was beaten in the quarter-finals by Pat DuPré in five sets (3–6, 6–4, 6–7, 6–4, 6–3). In an interview many years later, Panatta remarked that it was the only match in his career he "regretted losing", and that he threw it away by playing a "bit cocky" and repeatedly losing concentration.[10]

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).[11]

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,[12] and as tournament director of the Rome Masters.

Panatta also competed in offshore powerboat racing, most specifically in Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.[13] 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.[14]

From 1992 until 2002, Panatta also competed as a rally driver.[15] 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.[16]

Private life

Panatta is an atheist.[17] 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 Template:Flagicon Harold Solomon 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 Template:Flagicon Martin Mulligan 6–3, 7–5, 6–1
Loss 1. 1972 Hamburg, Germany Clay Template:Flagicon Manuel Orantes 3–6, 8–9, 0–6
Loss 2. 1972 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Template:Flagicon Andrés Gimeno 5–7, 8–9, 4–6
Loss 3. 1973 Valencia, Spain Clay Template:Flagicon Manuel Orantes 4–6, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 4. 1973 Barcelona, Spain Clay Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase 1–6, 6–3, 1–6, 2–6
Loss 5. 1973 Nice, France Clay Template:Flagicon Manuel Orantes 6–7, 7–5, 6–4, 6–7, 10–12
Loss 6. 1973 Madrid, Spain Clay Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase 3–6, 6–7, 7–5, 1–6
Loss 7. 1973 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase 3–6, 6–3, 6–0, 6–7, 4–6
Win 2. 1973 Bournemouth, England Clay Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase 6–8, 7–5, 6–3, 8–6
Win 3. 1974 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci 6–3, 6–1[18]
Loss 8. 1974 Båstad, Sweden Clay Template:Flagicon Björn Borg 3–6, 0–6, 7–6, 3–6
Win 4. 1975 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Template:Flagicon Jan Kodeš 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–4
Loss 9. 1975 Madrid, Spain Clay Template:Flagicon Jan Kodeš 2–6, 6–3, 6–7, 2–6
Loss 10. 1975 Barcelona, Spain Clay Template:Flagicon Björn Borg 6–1, 6–7, 3–6, 2–6
Win 5. 1975 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Template:Flagicon Jimmy Connors 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Loss 11. 1975 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Template:Flagicon Guillermo Vilas 6–2, 2–6, 6–4
Win 6. 1976 Rome, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Guillermo Vilas 2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 7–6
Win 7. 1976 French Open, Paris Clay Template:Flagicon Harold Solomon 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6
Loss 12. 1976 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez 5–7, 7–6, 1–6, 3–6
Win 8. 1977 Houston WCT, United States Clay Template:Flagicon Vitas Gerulaitis 7–6, 6–7, 6–1
Loss 13. 1978 Rome, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Björn Borg 6–1, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win 9. 1978 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Clay Template:Flagicon Pat DuPré 6–3, 6–3
Loss 14. 1978 Bologna Indoor, Italy Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Peter Fleming 2–6, 6–7
Win 10. 1980 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez 6–2, 2–6, 6–4
Loss 15. 1980 Geneva, Switzerland Clay Template:Flagicon Balázs Taróczy 3–6, 2–6
Loss 16. 1980 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Template:Flagicon Brian Gottfried 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 Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Juan Gisbert
Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase 		6–3, 6–4
Win 2. 1974 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Róbert Machán
Template:Flagicon Balázs Taróczy 		6–3, 3–6, 6–4
Win 3. 1974 Båstad, Sweden Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Ove Nils Bengtson
Template:Flagicon Björn Borg 		3–6, 6–2, 6–4
Win 4. 1974 São Paulo WCT, Brazil Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Ion Țiriac Template:Flagicon Ove Nils Bengtson
Template:Flagicon Björn Borg 		7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Loss 1. 1975 Richmond WCT Carpet Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Hans Kary
Template:Flagicon Fred McNair 		6–7, 7–5, 6–7
Win 5. 1975 Bologna Indoor, Italy Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe
Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 		6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Loss 2. 1975 Barcelona WCT, Spain Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe
Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 		5–7, 1–6
Win 6. 1975 London WCT, England Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Jürgen Fassbender
Template:Flagicon Hans-Jürgen Pohmann 		6–3, 6–4
Win 7. 1975 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Patrice Dominguez
Template:Flagicon François Jauffret 		6–2, 6–2, 7–6
Win 8. 1975 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Jürgen Fassbender
Template:Flagicon Hans-Jürgen Pohmann 		7–6, 6–7, 6–4
Loss 3. 1976 Stockholm, Sweden Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Alex Metreveli
Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase 		4–6, 5–7
Loss 4. 1976 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Jürgen Fassbender
Template:Flagicon Hans-Jürgen Pohmann 		5–7, 3–6, 3–6
Loss 5. 1977 Mexico City WCT, Mexico Hard Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase Template:Flagicon Wojtek Fibak
Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 		2–6, 3–6
Win 9. 1977 St. Louis WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase Template:Flagicon Vijay Amritraj
Template:Flagicon Dick Stockton 		6–4, 3–6, 7–6
Win 10. 1977 London WCT, England Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase Template:Flagicon Mark Cox
Template:Flagicon Eddie Dibbs 		7–6, 6–7, 6–3
Win 11. 1977 Houston WCT, U.S. Clay Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase Template:Flagicon John Alexander
Template:Flagicon Phil Dent 		6–3, 6–4
Loss 6. 1977 Charlotte WCT, U.S. Clay Template:Flagicon Corrado Barazzutti Template:Flagicon Tom Okker
Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall 		1–6, 6–3, 6–7
Loss 7. 1977 Masters Doubles WCT, Kansas City Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Vitas Gerulaitis Template:Flagicon Vijay Amritraj
Template:Flagicon Dick Stockton 		6–7, 6–7, 6–4, 3–6
Win 12. 1978 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Corrado Barazzutti Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson
Template:Flagicon John Marks 		6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Loss 8. 1979 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen
Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart 		6–4, 4–6, 6–7
Win 13. 1979 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Ivan Lendl
Template:Flagicon Pavel Složil 		6–4, 6–3
Win 14. 1979 Barcelona, Spain Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Carlos Kirmayr
Template:Flagicon Cássio Motta 		6–4, 6–3
Win 15. 1980 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Vitas Gerulaitis
Template:Flagicon John McEnroe 		6–2, 5–7, 6–3
Loss 9. 1980 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Gene Mayer
Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez 		1–6, 4–6
Win 16. 1980 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Brian Gottfried
Template:Flagicon Raymond Moore 		6–4, 6–4
Win 17. 1981 Nancy, France Carpet (i) Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase Template:Flagicon John Feaver
Template:Flagicon Jiří Hřebec 		6–4, 2–6, 6–4
Loss 10. 1981 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez
Template:Flagicon Pavel Složil 		3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 18. 1982 Florence, Italy Clay Template:Flagicon Paolo Bertolucci Template:Flagicon Sammy Giammalva Jr.
Template:Flagicon Tony Giammalva 		7–6, 6–1

Singles performance timeline

Template:Performance key

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

Template:Reflist

External links

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:1976 Davis Cup champions Template:Walk of Fame of Italian sport Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Adriano_Panatta&oldid=1515174"