legend Ilie Nastase openly boasted about his conquests with the ladies, claiming to have conquered a staggering tally of 2,500 partners before being tamed by his wife. Famed for his on-court triumphs and off-court escapades, the former World No.1 scooped both the US Open and French Open and was runner-up in two finals in the early '70s - and has been just as prolific in his love life, which he's been previously candid about.
However, even this bonking statistic from his autobiography might not be as impressive as his tennis record, as while chatting to the Daily Mail, Nastase, who racked up over $2million during his 16 years in the sport, opened up about his love of women. He quipped: "I like women. I love women.
It is normal to love a woman. No, no, no [2,500 women]! It wasn't that many. It was exaggerated for my autobiography.
They wanted a big number - to make it sell better". The Romanian superstar hinted that his real number of trysts is lower than reported, despite suggesting a still lofty bedroom tally but insists he lost count, commenting: "I don't know - 300, 400? I never added them up - it didn't feel right". The 77-year-old added with a touch of humour, reflecting on the impossibility of recalling all his encounters: "How could I remember? Anyway, what does it matter - 2,500 or 500, they're not going to give me a medal, are they? And there were a lot of misses.
I didn't score. Sometimes I'm very tired because I have to play tennis. And a lot of people turn me down!.