Tennis: Nastase relishes Eastbourne date

But fans be warned. Nastase, now aged 57, says his wild days are over. He has been tamed.

That is due to the influence of new wife Amalia and their one-year-old baby daughter Alessia.

However, there will be a familiar twinkle in his eye when he entertains the crowd during a Legends event at Devonshire Park next month (June 17 and 18).

The tournament is being held in conjunction with the Hastings Direct International Ladies Championships.

Nastase will partner Peter Fleming against the Armitraj brothers, Vijay and Anand, and is happy to dish out the one-liners to stoke up interest.

He said: "No problem. We can take care of these guys.The Armitraj brothers? Come on, Indians can't play tennis. They can play cricket but they can't play tennis."

Nastase has been called many things during his colourful and controversial life - the Bucharest Buffoon, the Clown Prince and the Bad Boy of Tennis - to name but a few. But Doting Dad and Devoted Family Man have, by his own admission, not been among them.

Nastase, who had a reputation as a ladies' man, said: "I have a normal family life. I used to concentrate on my tennis, now I concentrate on my family.

"Amalia and I have been together for five years and are celebrating our first wedding anniversary in July.

"She has had a long time to get to know me. She's younger and very tough on me. If go for a night out, I go with my wife.

"I'm glad I've just had another baby. When a baby comes late in your life, it is different to when you are 29, which is when I had my first daughter, Natalie. I didn't spend time with her because I was on the tennis tour.

"I now have time and I want to spend every minute with my new daughter. I want to give her something I should have given to all my other children (Nicholas and Charlotte make up the four). I love them all.

"Amalia thought of the name Alessia on the way to the hospital. I am very happy. I have a great life and things are going well. I've got it sorted out - so far!"

He has just written his autobiography, called Mr Nastase.

He said: "My life is more than just about tennis and that's why I've written the book."

There's plenty of ground to cover. Nastase helped detonate an explosion of interest in tennis in the Seventies due to his success, lifestyle, involvement with controversy and, above all, charisma.

He was world No.1, a Grand Slam champion at the US Open (1972) and French Open (1973) and twice runner up at Wimbledon (1972 and 1976). He also won doubles crowns at Wimbledon (1973) and the US Open (1975) with Jimmy Connors.

His volatile temperament, like John McEnroe's, held you spellbound. They played each other at the US Open in 1979 and, as expected, it was explosive.

Nastase said: "The umpire disqualified us both but eventually allowed us back on court and we finished the match.

"It was bad for us both. Arguments on court takes energy out of you and affects your concentration."

Nastase loved the role of court jester. While playing at Wimbledon once, he donned the hat of a policeman and fooled around with the Cyclops machine.

He also had the ability to combine anger with humour. The title of his book comes from a spat with an umpire at Wimbledon in which he did just that.

He said: "The umpire called me Nastase and I told him no, it's Mr Nastase."

Then he added to me with a smile: "But you can call me Ilie."

Nastase insisted his actions on court were never pre-meditated.

He said: "Things just happened. I don't think my opponents minded. If I knew they did I'd have done it all the time."

He appreciated the value of working the crowd. He said: "I remember speaking to McEnroe at the French Open about entertainment in tennis. We liked to please the crowd. If the crowd were pleased then so were we.

"He is a good student, not far from my standard, but he still has at least another year to catch me up!"

It is said, with his sublime touch and competitive edge, Nastase would have won more had he curbed his temperament.

He said: "I don't agree with anyone who says that. I think what I did in tennis was okay. It was because of the way I liked to play tennis that I had my success.

"I've no regrets about any things in my career because it was the way I am. I couldn't play like I was another player."

Nastase remains a big name. He said: "I like the fact people still have a big affection for me, that I am a sporting hero. It is nice people still talk about me. I appreciate it now more than I used to."

Who did he enjoy playing most? He said: "I enjoyed playing all of them, like McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Guillermo Vilas. They were my generation. But it was a bit different when I played Borg in the 1976 Wimbledon final - he was about ten years younger. But, like the others, I loved to play him."

Nastase, still a regular on the Seniors Tour, said: "I had a great time but I don't want to compare myself with the kids now because it is not fair."

Nastase's appeal stretches far beyond tennis.

He moves in circles which include Mick Jagger, Blll Clinton, George W Bush and Prince Albert of Monaco. He has even run for Mayor of Bucharest.

But his private life is known mostly for dalliances with the ladies. He got into his first tournament after chatting up the tournament director's wife.

He laughs about his heart-throb image which had ladies swooning. "I got my charm from my mother and I hope I'm still a heart throb for the sake of the old ladies."

But he insisted his third marriage will be his last. He joked: "I haven't got time left for any more."

Behind the smiles you sense he has been smitten. Nasty has become Nice.

Mr Nastase: The Autobiography by Ilie Nastase with Debbie Beckerman is published by Collins Willow on June 7, priced £18.99.