With the rise of tennis start Dani Vallejo, who recently became the first Paraguayan player at Roland Garros in 28 years, Paraguay is back on the world’s biggest stage. But the title of the greatest tennis player in Paraguayan history belongs, for now at least, to Víctor Pecci. In 1979, he became the first, and still the only, Paraguayan man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, also at Roland Garros. The following year, Pecci achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 9, placing Paraguay firmly on the international tennis map. This is the story about Victor Pecci’s Grand Slam run in 1979.
The promising beginning
Born in Asunción on October 15, 1955, Pecci captivated the courts with his talent from a very young age. By the time he was 13, young Pecci had won every national title available in his age division, establishing himself as one of Paraguay’s most promising young tennis players. In 1973, at the age of 18, Pecci began his professional career.
His success soon extended beyond Paraguay’s borders. In 1970, alongside Argentine player Guillermo Aubone, Pecci won the doubles title at the prestigious Orange Bowl junior tournament in Miami, one of the world’s premier events for young tennis players. Three years later, he claimed the boys’ singles title at Roland Garros and reached the semi-finals of the Wimbledon junior tournament.
With these accomplishments, it was clear that Pecci could be on the path to becoming Paraguay’s greatest tennis player.
A career full of milestones
Pecci’s professional career was marked by consistent growth on the international stage and strong performances across major tournaments. He captured 10 ATP singles titles throughout his career, winning in Madrid (1976), Berlin (1976), Bogotá (1978 and 1979), Nice (1979), Quito (1979), Santiago de Chile (1980), Viña del Mar (1981 and 1983), and Bournemouth (1981). He also won 12 doubles titles and reached numerous finals in both singles and doubles.
Pecci was also a long-standing member of Paraguay’s Davis Cup team, representing his country since 1976. He compiled a Davis Cup record of 17-8 in singles and 11-5 in doubles. During his term, Paraguay achieved several historic results, including a notable upset over Czechoslovakia in 1983 and a victory against France in 1985 in the early rounds.
Remarkably, throughout his career, Pecci recorded victories over many of the era’s leading players, including Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas, Ilie Năstase, Vitas Gerulaitis, Harold Solomon, Eddie Dibbs, Andrés Gómez, José Luis Clerc, and Yannick Noah, among others.
Victor Pecci’s Grand Slam run in 1979
For Pecci, the year 1979 and the clay courts of Roland Garros remain unquestionably special. Having opened the tournament with consistency and growing confidence, he defeated one of the strongest clay-court players of the era, Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas, announcing himself as a serious competitor.
He then faced the world number two, American Jimmy Connors, in the semifinals. Against all odds, the 23-year-old Paraguayan produced a major upset, winning 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, in one of the most defining victories of his career.
Facing world’s number one, Björn Borg
With the world number two eliminated from the French Open, Pecci advanced to face the world number one and three-time champion, Sweden’s Björn Borg, in the final. Despite a strong performance that earned recognition, Pecci was defeated in four sets.
Nevertheless, his run to the final remains, to this day, Paraguay’s greatest achievement in international tennis, as no other player has reached a similar level in a Grand Slam singles tournament.
That same year, Pecci was awarded the ATP Most Improved Player of the Year, highlighting not only his historic run in the tournament but also a breakthrough season both personally and for his country.
A life in sports
Although Pecci retired from professional tennis in 1990, his contributions to sports in Paraguay did not end there. From 2013 to 2018, he served as Paraguay’s Minister of Sports and played an important role in promoting athletic development throughout the country. He also contributed to the organisation of major sporting events, including the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games.
Today, Pecci remains a pioneer of Paraguayan tennis, dedicating his time and experience to inspiring and mentoring younger generations of athletes.
To follow his current life in sports, find Victor Pecci on Instagram.
Upcoming French Open final
The 2026 French Open Men’s final at Roland Garros between Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli is scheduled to be played on Sunday, 7 June in Paris, and, as always, promises high-level tennis on the sport’s most iconic clay court.
