What Happened to Adriano Panatta?

Adriano Panatta, born on July 9, 1950, in Rome, Italy, rose to prominence in the world of professional tennis, turning pro in 1969. His early career saw him secure several top-level professional titles, including Bournemouth in 1973, Florence in 1974, and Kitzbühel and Stockholm in 1975. However, the pinnacle of his career arrived in 1976, a year often referred to as his 'golden year'.

In 1976, Panatta achieved a historic double by winning both the Italian Open and the French Open. At the Italian Open, he famously saved 11 match points in his first-round match before going on to defeat Guillermo Vilas in the final. His triumph at Roland Garros was equally dramatic, where he saved a match point in the first round against Pavel Hutka and then defeated Harold Solomon in the final. This victory made him the first Italian man in the Open Era to win a major singles title. That same year, Panatta also led Italy to its first-ever Davis Cup crown, securing two singles and a doubles rubber in the final against Chile. He reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 on August 24, 1976.

Panatta holds a unique distinction as the only player to have defeated the legendary Björn Borg twice at the French Open, doing so in the fourth round in 1973 and the quarterfinals in 1976. After his stellar 1976 season, he continued to compete, winning the WCT tournament in Houston in 1977 and another title in Tokyo in 1978. He retired from the professional tour in 1983, concluding a career with 10 singles titles and 18 doubles titles.

Following his retirement, Panatta remained deeply involved in sports. He served as the captain of Italy's Davis Cup team and as the tournament director of the Rome Masters. Beyond tennis, he ventured into offshore powerboat racing, achieving a successful season in 1990 where he nearly became a world champion. From 1992 to 2002, he also competed as a rally driver, even participating in a World Rally Championship event in 1992. From 2018 to 2021, he was a regular guest on the RAI sport broadcast 'Quelli che... il Calcio'.

In recent years, Panatta continues to be a respected figure in the tennis world. In February 2024, he was surpassed by Jannik Sinner as the highest-ranking Italian male tennis player in history, with Sinner reaching World No. 3. In May 2026, Panatta was present at the Italian Open to award the trophy to Jannik Sinner, marking 50 years since his own triumph at the event. Most recently, on June 7, 2026, Panatta was invited as a guest of honor to the French Open to present the men's singles trophy, commemorating the 50th anniversary of his 1976 victory. This continued involvement underscores his enduring legacy and connection to the sport.