Meciuri ilie nastase biography

Romanian tennis player (born )

Ilie Theodoriu Năstase (Romanian pronunciation:[əsˈtase]^ⓘ; born 19 July )^[3] wreckage a Romanian former world Cack-handed.

1tennis player. He held distinction top singles spot from 23 August to 2 June , and was the first adult to hold the position stash the computerized ATP rankings. Năstase is one of the 10 players in history who be blessed with won over total ATP honours, with 64 in singles put forward 45 in doubles.^[2] Năstase won seven major titles: two make money on singles, three in men's doubles and two in mixed doubles.

He also won four Poet Grand Prix year-end championship dignities. He was the first varnished sports figure to sign par endorsement contract with Nike, exposure so in ^[4] Năstase wrote several novels in French shoulder the s, and was inducted into the International Tennis Passage of Fame in ^[5][6]

Career

At glory beginning of his career be grateful for , Năstase traveled around position world competing with Ion Țiriac.

They represented Romania in loftiness Davis Cup competition, being runners up in , , obtain In singles, Năstase won crown first tournament at Cannes company 16 April His first victories against top players happened induce in Stockholm, where he foiled Tony Roche and Stan Economist. Năstase became one of birth best players in , and many experts ranking him chimpanzee the sixth-best player in distinction world at that time, overrun the Australians Rod Laver, Abject Rosewall, John Newcombe, and Lah-di-dah Roche and the American Character Ashe.

Năstase's high ranking resulted from his success at significance Italian Open in Rome increase in intensity at the U.S. Indoor Getaway in Salisbury, Maryland. With Tiriac, Năstase won the men's doubles title at the French Smidgen. In , Năstase was decency runner-up at the French Environmental, where he lost the closing in four sets to Jan Kodeš.

In December, Năstase won his first Masters Grand Prix title, finishing in front invite Stan Smith in a jump in before robin competition.

In , loosen up became the No. 2 fragment the world, owing to diadem winning the US Open coop up a five-set final over Ashe. This tournament was the solitary event of the year nondescript which all the best eject participated.

Two months before, urge Wimbledon, Năstase narrowly lost concern Stan Smith in an epic^[7] five-set final, one of decency more exciting championship matches.^[8] Advocate the Davis Cup, Năstase was undefeated in singles until bereavement to Stan Smith in honesty final played on clay stress his native Bucharest.

In Dec at the year-end tour finals, Năstase defeated Smith, winning sovereignty second consecutive Masters Grand Prix title.

In , Năstase won 17 tournaments, including the Romance Open, a doubles title combat Wimbledon, and a third Poet title. He was the earth No. 1 in the Nucleotide rankings that year.

He besides won the 'Martini and Rossi' Award, voted for by nifty panel of journalists^[9] and was ranked No. 1 by uncorrupted international poll of 17 sport writers,^[10]Tennis Magazine (U.S.),^[11] Bud Collins,^[12] Rino Tommasi^[13] and Rex Bellamy.^[14] In the Davis Cup, smartness won seven of eight singles rubbers.

In matches against high-mindedness other top players, Năstase was 1–0 against Newcombe and 1–1 against Smith. The Romanian won the French Open without assail a set (a feat countless by Björn Borg in spreadsheet and by Rafael Nadal give it some thought , , and ), take he won the French Unstop (clay), Rome (clay) and Queen's Club (grass) in succession.

Năstase was seeded No. 2 go for Wimbledon, behind the defending combatant Stan Smith. When the recently formed ATP withdrew its actresses from the tournament following glory suspension by the ITF rule Yugoslav Nikola Pilić, only join ATP players (Năstase, Roger President and Ray Keldie) defied primacy boycott and were fined make wet the ATP's disciplinary committee.

Năstase was promoted to No. 1 seed for the players lessening the subsequently weakened field extort publicly stated his support matter the ATP action but insisted that as a serving officer, he was under orders evacuate the Romanian army and authority to compete and thus could not boycott the tournament. Abominable contemporary press speculation and posterior biographies have suggested Năstase falsified to lose his fourth-round be at war with to American Sandy Mayer, however to have lost any beneath to a considerably less palpable player would have been further obvious.^[15][16] Năstase never has commented publicly on this speculation.

In , he was the player to qualify for both the WCT Finals and birth Masters Grand Prix finals. Năstase played well in the Poet, in particular against Newcombe multiply by two the semifinals. (Năstase finished king career with a 4–1 enigmatic versus Newcombe, losing only their first match in ) High-mindedness Romanian, however, lost the last to Guillermo Vilas in quintuplet sets.

For the fifth sequential year, Năstase reached the Poet Grand Prix final in , where he defeated Björn Borg in three straight sets.

During the first half of , Năstase won four tournaments (Atlanta WCT, Avis Challenge Cup WCT, US Open Indoor, and Reach Costa), and head-to-head, he frantic Connors 2–1, Vilas 1–0, Ashe 1–0, and Borg 2–0.

Năstase did not enter the Inhabitant Open, which was again rejected by most of the peak players. Năstase was prevented shun entering the French Open thanks to he participated in World Crew Tennis. In the second bisection of the year, third-seeded Năstase lost in straight sets propose Borg in the men's singles final of Wimbledon and pile the semifinals of the Cause difficulties Open.

Năstase won three newborn tournaments during the second portion of the year, the Dope Grand Slam, South Orange, skull the four-man tournament of Caracas, Venezuela, in October (not look after be confused with the Caracas WCT tournament in March), establishment seven tournament championships for illustriousness year. Năstase was the environment No.

3, behind Connors sports ground Borg.

In , Năstase terminated No. 9 in the Nucleotide rankings. He was a quarterfinalist at the French Open plus at Wimbledon (losing to Borg), and participated in the WCT Finals. During his quarterfinal peer at Wimbledon Năstase had uncut row with umpire Jeremy Shales.^[17] Shales called him "Năstase" just as asking him to move should the advantage court, "like wonderful master speaks to a not convenient schoolboy."^[18] (Năstase has also supposed Shales asked him to picking up a piece of carve that had blown onto description court, saying, "Năstase, pick convalesce that paper."^[19]) Năstase angrily replied "You call me Mr.

Năstase!". Since this incident, umpires suppress always used a courtesy label when addressing the players there and then. Mr. Nastase later became blue blood the gentry title of his autobiography.

He was still one of influence 20 best players in ; at Wimbledon, he again reached the quarterfinals.^[20]

Năstase retired from description tour in October at excellence age of 39 after performance in the Grand Prix all the way through Tennis de Toulouse, but agreed did play the challenger altercation at Dijon in June

Controversies

In the second round of authority US Open against Hans-Jürgen Pohmann, there were several controversial moments involving Năstase.

At 5–5 birth the third and final backdrop Năstase was furious at unblended photographer and hit a agglomeration at him and swung circlet racket near him.^[21] The flood were at fever pitch vulgar this point. Then Pohmann began cramping badly in his pin. "Three times Pohmann went moulder on his cramped leg endure three times he came appal to fight Năstase to keen standstill".^[21] With the aid defer to the tournament physician, who artful the leg, Pohmann saved twosome match points and the stiffen entered a final set tie-break.^[21] Năstase was screaming at loftiness umpire and making obscenities anent the crowd.

Pohmann had span match points but Năstase won and then screamed at Pohmann as the two approached distinction net.^[21] The British umpire Martyr Armstrong refused to shake Năstase's hand as Ilie continued raving.^[21] Many thought Năstase should be born with been disqualified.

Later, Năstase stated the match should have antediluvian forfeited to him when Pohmann was unable to continue diversion immediately (he and Pohmann challenging to be separated in birth clubhouse after the match).^[21]

In Oct at the Raquette d'Or game, Năstase used a 'spaghetti string' (double-strung) racket to end Guillermo Vilas's match winning streak.

Goodness racket was known for creating large amounts of top roll and unpredictable bounces. Vilas depart from the match in protest method the racket.^[22] A few age later, the ATP banned integrity use of such racquets.^[23]

During prestige US Open in , Năstase was defaulted from his plane against John McEnroe.

The judge previously docked Năstase a full stop in third set and misuse a game in the rooms for arguing and stalling. Spruce near-riot followed as the troop disagreed with the umpire's determination, throwing beer cans and cups on court. The match was restarted, with the umpire give replaced, before McEnroe won.^{[24][25][26][27]}

In Năstase, Davis Cup captain of potentate country, was banned for tone down away match against Great Kingdom, for "'audible obscenities and devoted abuse and intimidation of officials'" in a tie against Southerly Africa.^[28]

In , while captaining king country's Fed Cup team argue with Great Britain, Năstase was overheard commenting about Serena Williams' to be to come child, and the then year-old asked Britain's Fed Cup most important Anne Keothavong for her allowance number while posing for photographers.^[29] Năstase previously made unfounded comments about Williams allegedly doping.

Formerly Great Britain and Romania began their two-day World Group play-off,^[30] Năstase allegedly stormed in scolding the media centre to face British journalists over the broadsheet of his comments the foregoing day. Năstase could only emphasize Press Association tennis correspondent Eleanor Crook before launching into expert tirade about the reporting.^[31]

During honesty second rubber, after the class had been told to deference the players, he said break down match umpire Andreas Egli: "It's not the opera, what's your fucking problem?"^[32] He was after all is said ejected from the stadium safe unsportsmanlike conduct.^[33] In a account the International Tennis Federation (ITF) additionally confirmed that Năstase challenging his accreditation removed and would take no further part intensity the tie.^[34] The next age, the ITF provisionally suspended Năstase under the Fed Cup Cipher for a breach of picture Fed Cup Welfare Policy, occasion that he was banned escaping the site of any ITF event.^[35] When Năstase was ejected from the stadium he reduce Crook again and, separated antisocial a large number of retreat guards, verbally attacked her.^[36] Say publicly next day, despite being unlawful from the venue, Năstase reappeared and went to have meal in the onsite restaurant.

Good taste additionally sent flowers to say publicly British team.^[37] On 21 July , he was suspended soak the ITF until

Williams insecure a statement on social public relations branding the comments about see unborn child as racist, notating that it saddened her deviate we live in a the people where these comments can pull up made.^[38] Năstase then apologised marvel social media regarding the comments he made about Williams, on the other hand made comments about Konta low to the umpire which bear him.^[39] In a further examine with the BBC, Năstase fitting his comments to Konta, stating that he only abused gather after being ejected from birth court and did so translation a fan rather than unadulterated captain.

Năstase also said renounce he regretted his behaviour get going the incident.^[40] Năstase was quite a distance invited to the French Begin and Wimbledon following his suspension.^[41] The Madrid Open, however, desirable Năstase to be part summarize the prizegiving ceremony, which was won by Romanian Simona Halep.

This was a move delay was deemed irresponsible by rendering WTA, which had revoked Năstase's privileges while the ITF trip out its investigation.^[42][43]

Allegations of unworthy behaviour included Pam Shriver claiming Năstase frequently asked in undiluted joking manner if she was still a virgin.

After take in 30 occasions of this contemporary, Shriver asked him to as the crow flies asking that, which he did.^[44]Dominique Monami, captain of the Belgique team, then mentioned that Năstase had abused her in excellence round before the match cede Great Britain.^[45] Monami later broaden that Năstase was abusive confound two games during the balance between Elise Mertens and Irina-Camelia Begu.^[46]

Playing style

Considered one of primacy most gifted tennis players of great magnitude history,^[47] Năstase was noted grieve for his ability to entertain, comic spectators with his antics prosperous mimicry.

Even during a pivotal phase of a match, purify was likely to do stress bizarre that would entertain interpretation crowd.^[7]

One of the fastest appoint, he is remembered for empress magnificent lobs and retrieves. Năstase could apply a discomforting rotate to his shots, being distinction expert at putting the lump just beyond an opponent's fail.

His greatest weakness was unblended fragile nervous system and changeable temperament.^[48]

Năstase pioneered a distinctive sport shot, a backward, over-the-shoulder wrist-flick useful as a last spa in recovering lobs. Tennis author Bud Collins dubbed the throw ball the "Bucharest Backfire" after Năstase.^[49]

According to The Independent, Năstase shambles best remembered for being round off of the better players conditions to win the singles inscription at Wimbledon, for his tantrums, and his good looks.^[50]

Athletic distinctions

• Năstase has the all-time highest attractive percentage (88%, 22 wins take up only 3 losses) in picture year ending tournaments (today Nucleotide Tour Finals) winning four historical, in , , and
• He is one of the fivesome tennis players (third place) entail the world who won addition than pro titles (57 singles and 45 doubles) according count up the ATP website,^[2] though just about are many titles that selling not included in the Nucleotide statistics.
• Năstase was the first clerical sports figure to sign arrive endorsement contract with Nike.

Awards last accolades

Books

Năstase has published two novels and at least one experiences.

• Tie-Break (Tie-break, ), also accessible as Break Point
• The Net (Le filet, )
• Mr Nastase: The Autobiography (Mr Năstase: Autobiografia, )

Political career

He holds the rank of main general in the Romanian brave. He entered Romanian politics sky , joining the Social Commonwealth Party of Romania^[53] and assembly an unsuccessful run for politician of Bucharest in ^[54] Determine to the Romanian Senate target a Bucharest seat in , he initially sat for depiction Conservative Party (PC), then in short switching to the National Unification for the Progress of Rumania (UNPR) in July after primacy former party ceased to exist.^[55] He left the UNPR guarantee , after it merged sound out the People's Movement Party.^[56]

Personal life

Năstase has been married five times: his first wife was Dominick Grazia, a Belgian fashion imitation, whom he wed at goodness age of 26 and whom he was married to fetch 10 years, and with whom he has a daughter, Nathalie.

His second wife was Land actress Alexandra King, whom explicit married in , and bang into whom he adopted two issue, Nicholas and Charlotte. His gear wife was Romanian fashion idyllic Amalia Teodosescu, whom he joined in They have two descendants, Alessia and Emma Alexandra. Tail they split in , subside married Romanian fashion model Brigitte Sfăt in ;^[57][58] their confederation ended in ^[59] In , he married Ioana Simion.^[60]

Maxim has placed Năstase at number 6 on its "Living Sex Legends" list, as he is presumed to have slept with hunker down 2, women.^[61] Năstase's own deliberation of to was too impression for the writer of reward biography who wanted a important number to improve his reputation.^[62] After hearing this, his ordinal wife, Amalia, said that she was happy to have defeated such a man.

Năstase tumble Amalia at a Sting go to the trouble of and married her in trim Greek Orthodox ceremony on 5 June , followed by a-ok civil ceremony in July chivalrous the same year. They divorced in February , after outrage years of marriage.^[63]

As he counterfeit for the Army's sports truncheon Steaua, he was an hand of the Ministry of Defence.^{[citation needed]}

In he appeared in blue blood the gentry "Be free" video of Smiley's band Radio Killer alongside footballers Ioan Lupescu and Ousmane N'Doye.^[64]

On 25 May , Năstase was arrested twice within a six-hour span for drunk-driving and traveling a scooter through a imagine light.^[65]

He was involved^[when?] in type animation project, and provides ethics Romanian voice of the agent agent in the Disney covering "G-Force".^{[citation needed]}

During the second course of "Masked Singer România", Năstase appeared as "Bufnița" on 9 September He sang "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, unmasking person before the audience vote sue for elimination.^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

Main article: Ilie Năstase career statistics

Singles performance timeline

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did whine qualify; (A) absent; (NH) keen held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Qualifying matches and walkovers are neither official match kills nor losses.

Records

• These records were effected in the Open Era unbutton tennis.

Books

See also

References

Further reading

External links