diff --git a/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py b/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py
index d8cfa9e..fae6983 100644
--- a/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py
+++ b/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py
@@ -309,13 +309,34 @@ def group_operator(tlist):
 
 def group_identifier_list(tlist):
     m_role = T.Keyword, ('null', 'role')
+    m_to = T.Keyword, 'TO'
     sqlcls = (sql.Function, sql.Case, sql.Identifier, sql.Comparison,
               sql.IdentifierList, sql.Operation)
     ttypes = (T_NUMERICAL + T_STRING + T_NAME
               + (T.Keyword, T.Comment, T.Wildcard))
 
+    def is_rename_separator(token):
+        # In ``RENAME TABLE a TO b, c TO d`` the comma separates independent
+        # rename clauses, so the target of one clause (``b``) and the source
+        # of the next (``c``) must not be merged into a single IdentifierList.
+        # Detect that layout by the ``TO`` keywords flanking both sides of the
+        # comma and leave such a comma ungrouped (issue779).
+        parent = token.parent
+        if parent is None:
+            return False
+        cidx = parent.token_index(token)
+        pidx, prev_ = parent.token_prev(cidx)
+        nidx, next_ = parent.token_next(cidx)
+        if prev_ is None or next_ is None:
+            return False
+        _, before_prev = parent.token_prev(pidx)
+        _, after_next = parent.token_next(nidx)
+        return (before_prev is not None and before_prev.match(*m_to)
+                and after_next is not None and after_next.match(*m_to))
+
     def match(token):
-        return token.match(T.Punctuation, ',')
+        return token.match(T.Punctuation, ',') \
+            and not is_rename_separator(token)
 
     def valid(token):
         return imt(token, i=sqlcls, m=m_role, t=ttypes)
diff --git a/tests/test_regressions.py b/tests/test_regressions.py
index aca7f7b..83aced2 100644
--- a/tests/test_regressions.py
+++ b/tests/test_regressions.py
@@ -414,6 +414,30 @@ def test_issue562_tzcasts():
            'SELECT f(HOUR\n         from bar AT TIME ZONE \'UTC\')\nfrom foo'
 
 
+def test_issue779_rename_table_pairs():
+    # The comma in ``RENAME TABLE a TO b, c TO d`` separates independent
+    # rename clauses. The target of one clause and the source of the next
+    # must stay separate Identifiers and not be merged into an IdentifierList.
+    p = sqlparse.parse('RENAME TABLE a TO b, c TO d')[0]
+    idents = [t for t in p.tokens if isinstance(t, sql.Identifier)]
+    assert [t.value for t in idents] == ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd']
+    assert not [t for t in p.tokens if isinstance(t, sql.IdentifierList)]
+    comma = p.token_next_by(m=(T.Punctuation, ','))[1]
+    assert comma is not None and comma.parent is p
+
+    # Backtick-quoted identifiers from the original report behave the same.
+    p = sqlparse.parse(
+        'rename table `db`.`test1` to test2, `db`.`test3` to test4')[0]
+    idents = [t for t in p.tokens if isinstance(t, sql.Identifier)]
+    assert [t.value for t in idents] == [
+        '`db`.`test1`', 'test2', '`db`.`test3`', 'test4']
+    assert not [t for t in p.tokens if isinstance(t, sql.IdentifierList)]
+
+    # A genuine ``TO`` target list (e.g. GRANT ... TO a, b) must still group.
+    p = sqlparse.parse('GRANT SELECT ON t TO a, b')[0]
+    assert p.token_next_by(i=sql.IdentifierList)[1] is not None
+
+
 def test_as_in_parentheses_indents():
     # did raise NoneType has no attribute is_group in _process_parentheses
     formatted = sqlparse.format('(as foo)', reindent=True)