Omar Camporese

Omar Camporese was a professional tennis player from 1987-2001 and from 1991-93 was Italy’s number one. A great natural talent, he was a powerful server with the forehand being his best stroke. Before competing in the 1988 Olympics, he won the doubles gold and singles silver at the previous year’s Mediterranean Games.

Injuries, including a chronic elbow problem, hampered Camporese’s career. However, he got as high as 18th in the ATP World Rankings in February 1992. He won two ATP tournaments, at Rotterdam in 1991, when he beat Ivan Lendl in the final, and at Milano in 1992, when he defeated Goran Ivanišević.

Camporese’s best performance in a Grand Slam was at the 1992 Australian Open when he reached the last 16, where he lost to Lendl. Camporese played in 30 Davis Cup ties, winning 12 singles and nine doubles before retiring in 2001.