Tell me about Adriano Panatta

[Frankc]

Never saw him play - I could have, but missed him. What I know now is that he sounds very interesting and talented... a power & touch player on clay in a golden era? Must have been interesting - I know how the Italians feel about their tennis and stars...
And did anyone happen to see him at the French or Italian?
Thanks for fillin me in...

 

[kiki]

Never saw him play - I could have, but missed him. What I know now is that he sounds very interesting and talented... a power & touch player on clay in a golden era? Must have been interesting - I know how the Italians feel about their tennis and stars...
And did anyone happen to see him at the French or Italian?
Thanks for fillin me in...

I am not Italian but Í´ve seen Adriano play many times, and against some of the best players of the world.I´ve seen that uninterested, out of form Adriano got roundly betaen by a fitter or most motivated journeyman, and I have seen him pulle out a great effort and make unbelievable vollyes out of a Borg,Lendl,Vilas passing shot.

First you gotta understand is that, even more than Nastase or Orantes, Panatta was a true artist.Not just because of his style, but also his menthality.He never liked practising but when somebody motivated him, he was able to go training in the Alps and put up great effort.

As for his game, he had one of the best S$V, certainly the best ever on clay and a big serve as well as a perfectly tamed forehand that went really fast.His backhand was mostly sliced, but very deep and low, which was a bit like Edberg´s: a shot exclusively designed to let you get into the net.Panatta was an extraordinary touch volleyer and his reach also allowed him a terrific overhead.

And he played the dropshots like almost nobody else ( Nastase,Orantes,Mayer were the other greats in that shot).

He was smart tactician, liked to tease the opponents and surprise them with " out of timong" volleys, middle court no power shots and so on.He was so talented his shots floated so easily, with flawless effort.

The best proof of his inmense talent is that he is the only man to beat Borg on clay twice (Roland Garros) playing S&V ( plus great touch shots, specially the drop shot to get Borg to the net and pass him)...do you imagine somebody beating Nadal twice on clay playing that game? it says it all.

 

[Tshooter]

I was a huge fan of his game and saw him a lot including when they played on clay (har-tru) at Forest Hills. Like Jmac and Nastase, AP had great hands - great feel.

I'm thinking a continental forehand and Eastern Backhand. It's been a while though...

You know who else was a huge AP fan. Alan King.

PS, never saw AP play in Rome but I did see his brother play in Rome. It is the difference between seeing Jmac and Pmac, maybe bigger even.

 

[jean pierre]

A good serve, a great forehand and a very great volley. A great clay player, like Noah. The only man who beats Borg at the French. A fantastic season in 1976, because he won Rome beating Vilas and the French beating Borg and Solomon.

 

[Tshooter]

I was at this match. It was a classic. Back then when the (old) stadium got packed people would sit on the steps. That's where I was. No seats left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTIxobZMzBg&feature=related

You can get a taste for just how obnoxious Connors could be on the court.

 

[urban]

And won both Rome and RG after saving a lot of matchpoints in the first rounds. Was famous for his lunging goalkeeper saves at the net (before Boris). I think at RG against Hutka he saved a matchpoint with such a jump. Was a good looking, always lazy looking chap with soft eyes, as if he was asleep. Tall, broad shoulders, but not very athletic built, sometimes a bit overweight; he ate too much pasta, if not as much as his friend Bertolucci.
Like Leconte later - he was extremely popular, especially among women. He needed the support of the crowd. I saw him several times at the WTC at Duesseldorf. Often sleeping and falling behind in his matches, but when the crowd began chanting 'Forza, Forza!' or 'Adriano, Adriano!' he woke up and did wondrous things. Today he is a power boat racer.

 

[kiki]

I was a huge fan of his game and saw him a lot including when they played on clay (har-tru) at Forest Hills. Like Jmac and Nastase, AP had great hands - great feel.

I'm thinking a continental forehand and Eastern Backhand. It's been a while though...

You know who else was a huge AP fan. Alan King.

PS, never saw AP play in Rome but I did see his brother play in Rome. It is the difference between seeing Jmac and Pmac, maybe bigger even.

True, Claudio was worse player than Patrick.

Panatta was the last artist of that chain formed by Pietrangeli,Santana,Nastase and Orantes.But he could play very well on grass ( he squandered off the 1979 qf vs Dupre, and I think he could have betaen Tanner in the semis) and almost knocked down the peak Connors of 1978 at Jimbo´s fav event, Flushing.

He remains the only guy to have beaten twice Borg at RG...playing very offensive tennis combined with superb touch and strategy.Borg himself has always said that Panatta is the only foe he feared...on clay.You never knew what he´d throw to you.he was a man motivated vs the big players but didn´t take tennis too seriously.Now, he is involved in politics, after some years patroling a boat racing team.

 

[kiki]

And won both Rome and RG after saving a lot of matchpoints in the first rounds. Was famous for his lunging goalkeeper saves at the net (before Boris). I think at RG against Hutka he saved a matchpoint with such a jump. Was a good looking, always lazy looking chap with soft eyes, as if he was asleep. Tall, broad shoulders, but not very athletic built, sometimes a bit overweight; he ate too much pasta, if not as much as his friend Bertolucci.
Like Leconte later - he was extremely popular, especially among women. He needed the support of the crowd. I saw him several times at the WTC at Duesseldorf. Often sleeping and falling behind in his matches, but when the crowd began chanting 'Forza, Forza!' or 'Adriano, Adriano!' he woke up and did wondrous things. Today he is a power boat racer.

Yeah¡ his success with women is just compared to that of nastase and gerulaitis.I´ve been in parties with him around and I can tell you why...

He saved 15 mp against Hutka.A week before, at the Foro Italico, he squandered several match points in the first round against Warwick...he was certainly a guy that loved drama.Sometimes looked more as a Shakesperean charachter than a tennis player.

 

[Frankc]

Panatta- truly golden

All, thank you so much for your insights and memories. After savoring Bodo & Harrison's wonderful Inside Tennis (A season on the pro tour), I realized the magic of the red dirt of Rome and the French during those years.
Now, I truly think that those of you who enjoyed talents like Adriano on any service( especially against the likes of Connors, Vilas, or Borg), really have some golden memories.
The Foro Italico musta been a crazy and wonderful spectacle in those years.
Appreciate the thoughts, all... As I said never saw him play and I thought that I had a pretty good attendance record in those years.
On p. 50, there is a delightfully acrobatic photo of an airborn Adriano at the Foro Italico - all he needs is a cape - either a matador or a superman.

 

[kiki]

All, thank you so much for your insights and memories. After savoring Bodo & Harrison's wonderful Inside Tennis (A season on the pro tour), I realized the magic of the red dirt of Rome and the French during those years.
Now, I truly think that those of you who enjoyed talents like Adriano on any service( especially against the likes of Connors, Vilas, or Borg), really have some golden memories.
The Foro Italico musta been a crazy and wonderful spectacle in those years.
Appreciate the thoughts, all... As I said never saw him play and I thought that I had a pretty good attendance record in those years.
On p. 50, there is a delightfully acrobatic photo of an airborn Adriano at the Foro Italico - all he needs is a cape - either a matador or a superman.

Panatta did the plongeon volley much much before that Becker, but newtards don´t know it.In fact, the inventor was the Bouncing basque frenchman, jean Borotra, in the 20´s.

 

[WCT]

I also read Bodo's book within the last year or two. It chronicled the 1978 tennis season. And it did not paint a pretty portrait about playing Panatta at the Italian open. Read like the semi with Higueras was a joke. Borg was ready to walk off in the final. Panatta was extremely talented, though. Gave both Connors and Borg trouble. By trouble, not always winning, but he'd make it close.

 

[Frankc]

You're right, it wasn't a pretty picture as the fans were known for a totally partisan, and ridiculously unruly nature. Yes, it may have been unfair, but I'd still drop everything to beam back for a few of those days. At least colorful and passionate, we could use a good bit more of that now. And I am definitely a purist.
Saw an interview with Panatta, and I liked the way he laughed and talked so freely of the days. He called Borg an "alien" in such a flattering way. Related a night before when Borg was unconsciously drunk and Panatta thought that it would be a walk the next day. He laughed as he related how Borg walked through him that next morning, and Panatta shook his head saying that while I was spitting at him, Borg was certainly laughing under "his moustache" at him.
Earlier, he commented that one had to be crazy to play professional tennis then.

 

[kiki]

You're right, it wasn't a pretty picture as the fans were known for a totally partisan, and ridiculously unruly nature. Yes, it may have been unfair, but I'd still drop everything to beam back for a few of those days. At least colorful and passionate, we could use a good bit more of that now. And I am definitely a purist.
Saw an interview with Panatta, and I liked the way he laughed and talked so freely of the days. He called Borg an "alien" in such a flattering way. Related a night before when Borg was unconsciously drunk and Panatta thought that it would be a walk the next day. He laughed as he related how Borg walked through him that next morning, and Panatta shook his head saying that Borg was certainly laughing under "his moustache" at him.
Earlier, he commented that one had to be crazy to play professional tennis then.

There were many great charachters, and the atmosphere was so utterly different.For instance, in Panatta´s days, Davis Cup was the major tennis event in so many countries...very nationalistic

 

[WCT]

You're right, it wasn't a pretty picture as the fans were known for a totally partisan, and ridiculously unruly nature. Yes, it may have been unfair, but I'd still drop everything to beam back for a few of those days. At least colorful and passionate, we could use a good bit more of that now. And I am definitely a purist.
Saw an interview with Panatta, and I liked the way he laughed and talked so freely of the days. He called Borg an "alien" in such a flattering way. Related a night before when Borg was unconsciously drunk and Panatta thought that it would be a walk the next day. He laughed as he related how Borg walked through him that next morning, and Panatta shook his head saying that while I was spitting at him, Borg was certainly laughing under "his moustache" at him.
Earlier, he commented that one had to be crazy to play professional tennis then.

Borg was drunk the night before the final? Never heard that story. Alien was also what Nastase used to call Borg. Said the rest of us play tennis, he plays something else.

 

[Frankc]

If I remember right, Adriano stated in the interview that it was a night before an exhibition - they were out, of course Adriano said that he doesn't drink, and Borg was unconsciously drunk.

 

[kiki]

Adriano and Bjorn were pretty good friends.Borg, off court was a nice guy, with tate for good life, while Adriano was one of the official tour playboys.He was also good friends with Gerulaitis.I´ve shared disco space with them and they had a magnet for nice looking chicks.

 

[Doug_Hartley_2012]

Aussie fans will remember a spectacular Davis Cup final match between Panatta and John Alexander. Tony Roche had thrashed Panatta in straight sets and 'JA' had beaten Corrado Barazzutti - another fine Italian player - in 4 sets. Surprisingly, the Italian pairing of Panatta and Bertolucci upset Alexander and Phil Dent in straight sets, so it was 2-1 to the Aussies. JA and Panatta then put on one of the finest singles contests in a Davis Cup final. In a 5 set thriller, JA clawed his way past Panatta 6-4 4-6 2-6 8-6 11-9. Very, very exciting to watch. That won the tie and the cup for Australia. Final match between Roche and Barazzutti was called off at 12 all.

 

[kiki]

Aussie fans will remember a spectacular Davis Cup final match between Panatta and John Alexander. Tony Roche had thrashed Panatta in straight sets and 'JA' had beaten Corrado Barazzutti - another fine Italian player - in 4 sets. Surprisingly, the Italian pairing of Panatta and Bertolucci upset Alexander and Phil Dent in straight sets, so it was 2-1 to the Aussies. JA and Panatta then put on one of the finest singles contests in a Davis Cup final. In a 5 set thriller, JA clawed his way past Panatta 6-4 4-6 2-6 8-6 11-9. Very, very exciting to watch. That won the tie and the cup for Australia. Final match between Roche and Barazzutti was called off at 12 all.

Great tie¡¡ Australians always endevoured to DC ( look at Cash in the 80´s), and italians never having the chance to play at Rome, when they had their best ever team, lead by Panatta and Barazzutti.

 

[Doug_Hartley_2012]

Italians

They talk rightly about France's four musketeers from the 1920s - Cochet, Lacoste, Borotra and Brugnon - but who remembers the fine Italian foursome from the 1970s - Panatta, Barazzutti, Bertolucci and Zugarelli?

Not in the same league but excellent nevertheless.

 

[kiki]

They talk rightly about France's four musketeers from the 1920s - Cochet, Lacoste, Borotra and Brugnon - but who remembers the fine Italian foursome from the 1970s - Panatta, Barazzutti, Bertolucci and Zugarelli?

Not in the same league but excellent nevertheless.

Good post.And, in 1970, the spanish DC team, had Gimeno been allowed to play, would read:

Santana,Gimeno,Orantes,Gisbert.One of the toughest ever DC teams, with no weakness at all.

 

[paoloraz]

Great team... DC winner in 76, finalist in 77, 79 against US and 80 in Prague against Lendl&Smid...when in the first match Adriano was ahead 2 sets to 0 with Smid, but then he contested a call, some italian fans started to speak loudly and a couple of them were arrested!! Then the match was interrupted two hours...they switched off the heating...Adriano was breezed and lost the match and we (Italians) probably the cup... this was the last peak of that wonderful team. Real characters: Adriano the lazy artist, 'Barazza' the soldier, 'Zuga' who used to play tennis for hobby (more or less) but who was finalist in Rome 77, and 'Paolone', golden-arm/pasta kid Berlolucci, who despite his fat body, was able to reach the 12th position in the ATP ranking... and Nicola Pietrangeli captain!

 

[kiki]

Great team... DC winner in 76, finalist in 77, 79 against US and 80 in Prague against Lendl&Smid...when in the first match Adriano was ahead 2 sets to 0 with Smid, but then he contested a call, some italian fans started to speak loudly and a couple of them were arrested!! Then the match was interrupted two hours...they switched off the heating...Adriano was breezed and lost the match and we (Italians) probably the cup... this was the last peak of that wonderful team. Real characters: Adriano the lazy artist, 'Barazza' the soldier, 'Zuga' who used to play tennis for hobby (more or less) but who was finalist in Rome 77, and 'Paolone', golden-arm/pasta kid Berlolucci, who despite his fat body, was able to reach the 12th position in the ATP ranking... and Nicola Pietrangeli captain!

I always said that Italy was the unluckiest team ever: never played one single DC final at Rome, where few if any teams could beat them.They won in 76 at Santiago, then lost in 77 at Sidney, 79 at Frisco, 80 at Prague.I recall that rubber and how Panatta seemed upset and how Smid became the hero of the czech team ( which also included Lendl,Slozil and Kodes as captain).

I always enjoyed Bertolucci´s touch and sensational sliced Bh.He was lazy and a bit out of shape and needed Adriano to push him.But when both teamed up and were inspired, there was no more creative team.

Gianni Ocleppo was also a very good hard court player.Unfortunately, he lasted just one year...

 

[kiki]

Panatta beat Jimmy Connors at Connors peak on a fast carpet indoor tournament which was great in that time.In the 75 Stockholm Open final, three close sets.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Panatta seems like a real character, as do most of the players of the 1970s.

 

[kiki]

Adriano was always very interesting leaving his magic tennis aside.

He was born in a humble family, his father was something like the door guard of the Parioli Club, the upper class private tennis club of the Roman elite, one of the most snobist in the world.Remember La Dolce Vita?
Panatta was for years a ball picker, just like spanish greats of that time, Santana and Orantes.

He, on one hand, has always tried to emulate the snob behaviour of those who " let " him play at their courts as a kid and has become a sort of golden play boy who regularly competes in the very exclusive boat racing tour.

But on the other hand, his heart was always on the left side.He became a Rome city counselor for the Democratic party, which is basically a more moderate evolution of the former PCI ( the biggest, by far, and most influential communist party in the western world)