General Adriano
Panatta
Male
Italy
1950-07-09
Rome, Italy


About

Adriano is a former professional tennis player from Italy. He is best remembered for winning the French Open in 1976, and for being the only player to ever defeat Björn Borg at Roland Garros, which he did on two occasions.
Panatta was born in Rome. 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, and at 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) 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.

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 quarter-finals in 1976 (6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6). He also faced Borg at the semi-final stage of the 1975 tournament; Borg won on this occasion in four sets.

In 1977, Panatta won the WCT tournament in Houston, where he managed to defeat 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, his most notable performance came in reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 1979. He was beaten at that stage by Pat Dupre in 5 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).

Panatta's final career singles title came in 1980 at Florence. He retired from the professional tour in 1983.

Since retiring as a player, Panatta has gone on to serve as Captain of Italy's Davis Cup team and as Tournament Director of the Rome Masters. He is also a professional powerboat racer.



Media


Archive statistics 1967 - 1983
32
893
557


Tournament wins 1983 - Locarno International (Open)
1981 - San Benedetto (Open)
1981 - La Spezia (Open)
1981 - Turin Invitational Indoor (Open)
1980 - Mexico City Exhibition (Open)
1980 - Locarno International (Open)
1980 - Florence International (Amateur)
1979 - Rome Invitational (Open)
1978 - Japan Open (Open)
1977 - River Oaks Tournament (WCT Circuit)
1976 - Centreville Supercup (Open)
1976 - Carrasco L.T.C. (Open)
1976 - Italian International Championships ()
1976 - Roland Garros (Grandslam)
1975 - Austrian International Championships (Grand Prix Circuit)
1975 - Italian National Championships (Open)
1975 - Stockholm Open (Grand Prix Circuit)
1974 - Viareggio (Amateur)
1974 - Italian National Covered Courts (Open)
1974 - Florence International (Amateur)
1974 - Italian National Championships (Open)
1973 - Italian National Championships (Open)
1973 - British Hard Court Championships (Open)
1972 - Reggio Emilia (Open)
1972 - Italian National Covered Courts (Open)
1972 - Italian National Championships (Open)
1971 - Trofeo Bonfiglio (Open)
1971 - Reggio Emilia (Open)
1971 - Grado Invitation (Open)
1971 - Senigallia (Open)
1971 - Italian National Championships (Open)
1970 - Italian National Championships (Open)


Tournaments Italian International Championships - 1983 Venezia (Venice International Tournament) - 1983 Florence International - 1983 Milano Indoors - 1983 Locarno International - 1983 Brescia - 1983 Lorraine Open - 1983 Lausanne International - 1983 North Miami Beach - 1983 Monte Carlo - 1982 Roland Garros - 1982 US Open - 1982 Italian International Championships - 1982 Venezia (Venice International Tournament) - 1982 Conde de Godo - 1982 Italian National Championships - 1982 Swiss International Covered Courts - 1982 Sicilian International Championships - 1982 Indian Wells - 1982 Knokke Le-Zoute - 1982 Florence International - 1982 Paris Indoor - 1982 Milano Indoors - 1982 Toronto Indoor - 1982 Geneva Open - 1982 Monte Carlo - Qualifying - 1982 Vienna International Indoor - 1982 Stockholm Open - 1982 World Team Cup - 1982 San Benedetto - 1982 Bari Challenger - 1982 Monte Carlo - 1981 Roland Garros - 1981 US Open - 1981 Italian International Championships - 1981 Venezia (Venice International Tournament) - 1981 Belgian International Championships - 1981 Conde de Godo - 1981 Italian National Championships - 1981 Sicilian International Championships - 1981 Florence International - 1981 Paris Indoor - 1981 Milano Indoors - 1981 Bologna Indoor - 1981 WCT - Forest Hills - 1981 Lorraine Open - 1981 San Benedetto - 1981 Rome Invitational - 1981 Brooklyn Masters - 1981 Genoa Invitational Indoor - 1981 Smash Cup - 1981 Cali International - 1981 Turin Invitational Indoor - 1981 San Remo Challenger - 1981 La Spezia - 1981 Naples Exhibition - 1981 Wimbledon - 1980 Monte Carlo - 1980 Roland Garros - 1980 Italian International Championships - 1980 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1980 Conde de Godo - 1980 Italian National Championships - 1980 Sicilian International Championships - 1980 ABN AMRO Rotterdam - 1980 Florence International - 1980 Paris Indoor - 1980 Milano Indoors - 1980 Bologna Indoor - 1980 Geneva Open - 1980 Locarno International - 1980 Las Vegas - 1980 Mexico City Exhibition - 1980 World Team Cup - 1980 Brooklyn Masters - 1980 Coupe de Vuignier - 1980 Munich Indoor Invitation - 1980 Frankfurt Open - 1980 Stuttgart 4 Men Invitational - 1980 Turin Challenger - 1980 Carre d`As Exhibition - 1980 Wimbledon - 1979 Monte Carlo - 1979 Roland Garros - 1979 US Open - 1979 Italian International Championships - 1979 US International Indoor Championships - 1979 River Oaks Tournament - 1979 Surrey Championships - 1979 Conde de Godo - 1979 Sicilian International Championships - 1979 Indian Wells - 1979 Florence International - 1979 Milano Indoors - 1979 Tel Aviv Open - 1979 Las Vegas - 1979 WCT Tournament of Champions - 1979 World Team Cup - 1979 Italian Summer Satellite - Leg 2 - 1979 Cleveland Grand Prix - 1979 Marbella Invitation - 1979 Hamburg Indoor - 1979 Frankfurt Indoor - 1979 Vienna Invitational - 1979 Rome Invitational - 1979 Brussels Indoor - 1979 Toulouse Indoor - 1979 Brooklyn Masters - 1979 Monte Carlo - 1978 Roland Garros - 1978 US Open - 1978 Canadian International Championships - 1978 Pacific Coast Championship - 1978 US Clay Courts - 1978 Queens Club Tournament - 1978 Italian International Championships - 1978 River Oaks Tournament - 1978 US Pro Championships - 1978 Belgian International Championships - 1978 Conde de Godo - 1978 Japan Open - 1978 Madrid Open - 1978 Florence International - 1978 Philadelphia Indoors - 1978 Milano Indoors - 1978 Bologna Indoor - 1978 Milano Professional Championships - 1978 Baltimore International Indoors - 1978 Birmingham International Indoor - 1978 Stockholm Open - 1978 Wembley Indoor - 1978 Marlboro Cup - 1978 World Team Cup - 1978 Essen Exhibition - 1978 Tokyo Indoor - 1978 Wimbledon - 1977 Monte Carlo - 1977 Roland Garros - 1977 US Open - 1977 Queens Club Tournament - 1977 Italian International Championships - 1977 River Oaks Tournament - 1977 ABN AMRO Rotterdam - 1977 Abierto Mexicano - 1977 Richmond Indoor Championships - 1977 Charlotte - 1977 Philadelphia Indoors - 1977 WCT - St. Louis - 1977 WCT - London - 1977 WCT Finals - 1977 La Paz Round Robin - 1977 Las Vegas - 1977 Rotterdam - 1977 Club Obras Sanitarias - 1977 Caracas International Round Robin - 1977 WCT Challenge Cup - 1977 Pepsi Grand Slam - 1977 WCT Tournament of Champions - 1977 Cinco Saltos Neuquen - 1977 Quito Invitational - 1977 Wimbledon - 1976 Monte Carlo - 1976 Roland Garros - 1976 US Open - 1976 Nice - 1976 Italian International Championships - 1976 US Pro Championships - 1976 Nottingham - 1976 Sao Paulo International - 1976 Gstaad - 1976 Florence International - 1976 Las Vegas - 1976 Club Obras Sanitarias - 1976 Caracas International Round Robin - 1976 Barcelona ATP Open - 1976 WCT - Rome - 1976 Malta International - 1976 WCT - Stockholm - 1976 Carrasco L.T.C. - 1976 Centreville Supercup - 1976 Pondus Cup - 1976 Wimbledon - 1975 Monte Carlo - 1975 Roland Garros - 1975 Canadian International Championships - 1975 Austrian International Championships - 1975 US Clay Courts - 1975 Italian International Championships - 1975 British Hard Court Championships - 1975 US Pro Championships - 1975 German International Championships - 1975 South African Championships - 1975 Argentina International Championships - 1975 Conde de Godo - 1975 Italian National Championships - 1975 ATP World Tour Finals - 1975 ABN AMRO Rotterdam - 1975 Richmond Indoor Championships - 1975 Madrid Open - 1975 Florence International - 1975 Philadelphia Indoors - 1975 Paris Indoor - 1975 WCT - London - 1975 Bologna Indoor - 1975 Aryamehr Cup - 1975 WCT - Barcelona - 1975 Stockholm Open - 1975 WCT - Stockholm - 1975 Johannesburg Open - 1975 Wimbledon - 1974 Roland Garros - 1974 Italian International Championships - 1974 British Hard Court Championships - 1974 River Oaks Tournament - 1974 Nottingham - 1974 Italian National Championships - 1974 Bavarian International Championships - 1974 Viareggio - 1974 Bastad - 1974 Florence International - 1974 Philadelphia Indoors - 1974 WCT - London - 1974 WCT- Sao Paulo - 1974 Bologna Indoor - 1974 Italian National Covered Courts - 1974 WCT - Tokyo - 1974 WCT - Barcelona - 1974 Tucson - ATP - 1974 WCT - Palm Desert - 1974 Monte Carlo - 1973 Roland Garros - 1973 US Open - 1973 Canadian International Championships - 1973 Nice - 1973 Cincinnati - 1973 US Clay Courts - 1973 Queens Club Tournament - 1973 Italian International Championships - 1973 British Hard Court Championships - 1973 Barcelona International - 1973 Conde de Godo - 1973 Madrid - 1973 Italian National Championships - 1973 Valencia Open - 1973 Madrid Open - 1973 Florence International - 1973 Paris Indoor - 1973 Milano Indoors - 1973 Italian National Covered Courts - 1973 Pedralbes - 1973 Wimbledon - 1972 Roland Garros - 1972 US Open - 1972 Canadian International Championships - 1972 US Clay Courts - 1972 Queens Club Tournament - 1972 Italian International Championships - 1972 US International Indoor Championships - 1972 International Championships of Egypt - Cairo - 1972 German International Championships - 1972 South African Championships - 1972 Belgian International Championships - 1972 Madrid - 1972 Italian National Championships - 1972 Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championship - 1972 Gstaad - 1972 Italian National Covered Courts - 1972 Clean Air Classic - 1972 Des Moines International Indoors - 1972 Reggio Emilia - 1972 Los Angeles Inernational - 1972 Wimbledon - 1971 Roland Garros - 1971 Queens Club Tournament - 1971 Italian International Championships - 1971 International Championships of Egypt - Cairo - 1971 German International Championships - 1971 International Championships of Egypt-Alexandria - 1971 Kent Championships - 1971 King's Cup - Final - 1971 Italian National Championships - 1971 Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament - 1971 Sicilian International Championships - 1971 Mediterranean Games - 1971 Catania - 1971 Gstaad - 1971 Trofeo Bonfiglio - 1971 King's Cup - Semi-Final a - 1971 Senigallia - 1971 Bologna Indoor - 1971 Terracina - 1971 Grado Invitation - 1971 Reggio Emilia - 1971 Wimbledon - 1970 Roland Garros - 1970 Italian International Championships - 1970 International Championships of Egypt - Cairo - 1970 German International Championships - 1970 Championships of Berlin - 1970 Le Touquet July Meeting - 1970 Italian National Championships - 1970 Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament - 1970 Sicilian International Championships - 1970 Napoli - 1970 Catania - 1970 Napoli (minor tournament) - 1970 Reggio Calabria - 1970 Nations' Cup (Egypt) - 1970 King's Cup - Semi-Final b - 1970 Coupe de Galea - 1970 King's Cup - Consolation -Third Place - 1970 International Championships of Egypt - Cairo - Qua - 1970 Australian Open - 1969 Roland Garros - 1969 New South Wales Championships - 1969 Italian International Championships - 1969 Italian National Championships - 1969 Roland Garros Qualifying - 1969 Sicilian International Championships - 1969 Napoli - 1969 Manly Seaside Tournament - 1969 Catania - 1969 Napoli (minor tournament) - 1969 Parioli - 1969 Ortisei - 1969 Senigallia - 1969 Coupe de Galea - 1969 Coupe Maurice Bivort - 1969 International Team Matches - 1969 European Amateur Championship - 1969 South Australian Championships - 1968 Italian International Championships - 1968 Queensland Championships - 1968 Conde de Godo - 1968 Italian National Championships - 1968 Coupe de Galea - 1968 Italian National Championships - 1967

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