Adriano Panatta: A Second Life at 73

Adriano Panatta? Today he lives his second life at 73. He has become a sought-after TV commentator and, he says, he has gotten his act together thanks to his wife Anna who "made me serious". He no longer plays tennis because "the few times I do, I get angry, I become moody, because if I push it, I hurt myself", his words to Repubblica. THE CHILDREN Adriano Panatta talked about his relationship with his three children Niccolò, Alessandro, and Rubina. "They were free to do what they liked", explains the former tennis player. "I was too good, never been a strict parent, I couldn't be. Then I was rarely there, I was traveling for work". On overprotective parents he says: "Being so in an unhealthy way is toxic, look at what happens at school, with parents who insult, or worse, beat up teachers". THE STORIES "I don't remember ever courting so much, I have a strong sense of modesty. Never, for God's sake, make the figure of the fool. I'm interested in intelligent women with whom you can talk, otherwise, I keep to myself", he adds. On past loves: "As a boy I wanted to marry Mina, I was too young. Loredana Bertè? We don't talk. I've met her a few times at Fazio's, I hold her dear. She's a girl with a big heart". THE MONEY His relationship with money is not that of a person who thinks about saving: "Never been prudent, I enjoyed life and if I could be well it gave me joy to make others feel good too. Mario Belardinelli when I was 21 told me: Remember one thing: you will never be rich, but you will never be poor". THE PHYSICAL "I still feel good, but I have some aches. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, every now and then, I tell someone: 'I think I'm going to die within an hour and a half'. Then minutes pass and I announce: 'Maybe I won't die after all'", he concluded.