Ilie Năstase and Nadia Comăneci attend sports festival in Italy

Romanian sporting legends Ilie Năstase and Nadia Comăneci are participating in the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Italy, to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

During an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Ilie Năstase reflected on his career as the first ATP world number one, noting his reputation for theatricality and on-court antics. He remarked that while his behavior often drew fines, he prioritized winning, stating, “I had to win, and I won.” He also commented on modern tennis, suggesting that his expressive style would likely face constant sanctions under today’s stricter regulations.

Năstase praised current players like Jannik Sinner for their technical skills but maintained that Rafael Nadal remains his favorite due to his unprecedented success at Roland Garros. The festival features various sporting icons, including football stars such as Franck Ribéry and Wesley Sneijder, and attracts large crowds to the Trento and Venice regions.