Ilie Nestase became the first ATP No. 1 on August 23, 1973, and 50 years later, he talks about the “special military pension” he receives and the situation with Simona Halep, suspended for doping.

Ilie Nestase has a military pension of 1,435 lei per month

Nestase is a retired major general from the Ministry of Defense but says the state did not reward him when he became a world leader and now receives a “special pension”.

“I was not awarded, I was not even congratulated. I was awarded a military pension in the amount of 1,435 lei per month. This is the reward I get every month.

But know that I did not expect to be rewarded with anything, but if I continue to give to others, and I am serious about giving these special pensions….

I heard one say that I have a special pension… If I have a special pension, really special, how the hell are they going to get?’ – Ilye Nestasin an interview for Agerpres.

Ilie Nestase: “Symona Halep didn’t beat me, she beat the girls”

Ilie Nestase won the 1972 US Open and 1973 Roland Garros, and has three Grand Slam doubles titles (Roland Garros 1970, Wimbledon 1973 and US Open 1975) and two mixed doubles titles (Wimbledon 1970 and 1972).

The former major says she doesn’t want to compare herself to Simona Halep, the 2018 Roland Garros and 2019 Wimbledon champion.

“Symona Halep never overtook me, she overtook the girls, I’m with the boys, I’m not near Halep. That she lasted 64 weeks and won two Grand Slams, or I won two and five in doubles…

No, everyone is different, I don’t want to compare myself with anyone. I loved playing tennis, as many as I won, which is about 58, they didn’t recognize me because it was before the ATP.

If someone wins more than 100 tournaments I think that’s fine, I have no problem comparing myself. Because few people have won 100 tournaments” – Ilye Nestas.

“This is by no means the end of Simona Halep’s career,” says Ilie Nestase

Simona Halep has been suspended for doping and will disappear from the WTA rankings after the 2023 US Open, a tournament in which she will not be able to participate. Ilie Nestase is convinced that the former WTA leader will return to the field regardless of the verdict of the Sport Resolutions tribunal.

“I don’t know many things, what you know, I also know. We have to wait, let’s see what decision they will make, and whether something can be done with the lawyers, I don’t know.

If he has a chance to come back? It doesn’t matter anymore, sir, she was No. 1 in the world, and if No. 500 beats No. 1 in the world today, nobody’s upset, you know.

I think she has a chance to return to the track, because she is young, I saw that she stayed in touch with tennis, she did not go somewhere to the mountains to sit under a castle. This is by no means the end of her career” – Ilye Nestas.

Know:

• The news that Simona Halep was temporarily suspended for doping appeared on Friday, October 21, 2022.

• Halep is temporarily suspended from tennis after testing positive for Roxadustat (conducted during the 2022 US Open). Later, Simona was also accused of “violations” in the biological sports passport.

• Simona’s case is now being heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent court in London that hears doping cases in white sport.

• However, if innocence cannot be proven, Simone has one more appeal: the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

• It will be recalled that the maximum suspension that Halep could receive is 4 years.

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