| Full name | Javier Soler |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Spain |
| Born | 25 March 1955 Barcelona, Spain |
| Plays | Left-handed |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 25-50 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 74 (16 October 1978) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 1R (1977, 1978, 1979) |
| US Open | 1R (1977) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 11-36 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (1977) |
Javier Soler (born 25 March 1955) is a former professional tennis player from Spain.
A left-handed player from Barcelona, Soler featured in the Spain Davis Cup team for two ties, both in 1977. His first appearance was the doubles rubber when Spain played Greece in Athens. He and partner Antonio Muñoz secured the tie with a four-set win. [1] He was called up again for Spain in the Europe Zone final against Italy in Barcelona. With the Italians having an unassailable 3–1 lead, Soler was picked for the fifth match against Adriano Panatta, a dead rubber. He managed to dominate the former French Open champion for a 6–1, 6–0 win, but the Italian was accused of not playing to his best. [2] The crowd was reportedly incensed by Panatta's performance which was described as "lackadaisical" and showing "little inclination to fight". He allegedly deliberately hit some of his shots out during the match. [3] The crowd booed Panatta throughout and a few attempted to attack him as he left the court. There were even fist fights in the crowd between Spanish and Italian supporters. [4]
Soler played in the main singles draw of the French Open on three occasions and was unable to get past the opening round. In both 1977 and 1978, he lost in the first round to Buster Mottram, then in 1979 faced ninth seed Arthur Ashe. [5] Soler, who also played in the 1977 US Open, competed on the Grand Prix and WCT circuits. His best performance was a semi-final appearance at Murcia in 1977, during which he defeated Roger Taylor. He also had career wins over Juan Aguilera and Corrado Barazzutti. [6] [7] In 1983 he was a doubles gold medalist at the Mediterranean Games in Casablanca. [8]
Emilio Ángel Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former doubles world No. 1 tennis player. He won five Grand Slam doubles titles and the men's doubles silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games. Sánchez is the older brother of multiple Grand Slam winner Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, with whom he partnered to win the Hopman Cup in 1990. After retiring, he captained Spain to Davis Cup victory in 2008.
Adriano Panatta is an Italian former professional tennis player. He is a major champion, winning the French Open in 1976, and was the first Italian man in the Open Era to win a major singles title. Panatta was also the only player ever to defeat Björn Borg at Roland Garros, doing so twice.
Tomáš Šmíd is a former tennis player from Czechoslovakia, who won nine singles titles during his career. In doubles, he won 54 titles and was world No. 1 in doubles from December 17, 1984, to August 11, 1985. The right-hander reached his highest ATP singles ranking of world No. 11 in July 1984. Šmíd participated in 31 Davis Cup ties for Czechoslovakia from 1977 to 1989, posting a 20–10 record in doubles and a 22–15 record in singles. Šmíd was a part of the winning 1980 Davis Cup team, a team which included Ivan Lendl. In the final against Italy, Šmíd won a singles rubber against Adriano Panatta after being two sets down, and won the doubles rubber when partnered with Lendl as they beat Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci to clinch the 1980 Davis Cup for Czechoslovakia.
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Adriano Panatta defeated Harold Solomon in the final, 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–3) to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1976 French Open. It was his first and only major singles title. Panatta became the first man in the Open Era to win the French Open after saving a match point en route, doing so against Pavel Huťka in the first round.
The Italy men's national tennis team represents Italy in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Italian Tennis Federation. Italy are the reigning champions, claiming the Davis Cup in 2023. They are two-time champions overall, also winning in 1976, and finishing as runners-up six times. Nicola Pietrangeli is one of Italy's most decorated players, featuring in all major records for the team. He holds the record for most Davis Cup ties, most overall wins, most singles wins, most doubles wins, and most years played.
Claudio Panatta is an Italian former tennis player and younger brother of 1976 French Open champion Adriano Panatta.
The ATP Tour is the elite tour for professional tennis organized by the ATP. The 2001 ATP Tour included the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Tennis Masters Cup, the Tennis Masters Series, the International Series Gold and the International Series.
Matthew Doyle is a former American and later Irish professional tour tennis player. His best result was reaching the fourth round of the US Open in 1982. He was also a long-time Irish Davis Cup player.
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Jan Norbäck is a Swedish former professional tennis player.
J. Francisco Guzmán Carmigniani, known as Pancho Guzmán, is an Ecuadorian former tennis player active in the 1960s and 1970s.
Ney Keller is a former professional tennis player from Brazil.
Martín Vilarrubí is a former professional tennis player from Uruguay.
Richard Russell is a Jamaican former professional tennis player.
Paulo Javier Taborga is a Bolivian former professional tennis player.
Carlos Behar is a Colombian former professional tennis player.
Ferruccio "Illo" Quintavalle (1914–1998) was an Italian engineer and tennis player.
