Illie Nastase

Ilie Nastase is a retired Romanian professional tennis player who was born on July 19, 1946, in Bucharest, Romania. He had a successful career on the ATP tour, winning a total of 57 singles titles and 45 doubles titles.

Nastase turned professional in 1966 and quickly established himself as one of the top players on the tour. He won his first Grand Slam singles title at the 1972 US Open, defeating Arthur Ashe in the final. He went on to win a total of 2 Grand Slam singles titles during his career, also winning the French Open in 1973.

Nastase was known for his flamboyant style of play and his showmanship on the court. He was also known for his on-court antics, which sometimes got him into trouble with officials and opponents. However, he was widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation and was a popular player among fans.

After retiring from professional tennis in 1985, Nastase became a successful tennis coach and administrator. He served as the captain of the Romanian Davis Cup team and was also the president of the Romanian Tennis Federation. Despite his success on the court, Nastase’s legacy is somewhat marred by his controversial behavior both on and off the court.