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By Scoop Malinowski
Status: 1978 Roland Garros champion.
DOB: January 31, 1955 In: Campia Turzil, Romania
First Tennis Memory: “Fed Cup in 1973. First time Romania ever played in the competition. First time I was going out kind of Romania. And going all the way to the semifinal.”
Tennis Inspirations: “Ilie Nastase of course [laughs]. Tiriac, Nastase with the Davis Cup final against US in Romania. They were all an inspiration for me.”
First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: “Other than Nastase? Let’s see, let’s see…I was impressed with Roy Emerson, who I met playing a tournament at the beginning of my career somewhere in Florida. Of course, I was always impressed by Chris Evert, who I could only see on the TV when I was a junior. I started late. First time I came to the United States was at nineteen. And I know my idol was Virginia Wade because her name is Virginia [smiles].”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the French Open in 1978.”
Most Painful Moment: “[Laughs] losing in the finals of the French Open to Chris Evert. And I did not perform at my best.”
Strangest Match: “Well, let me think of that…There were many matches with ups and downs. Matches that I was losing and managed to win. Or the other way around. I had a strange match with Evonne Goolagong in the quarterfinal of Wimbledon (1978(. As I was up 5-2 in the first set, she had pain in her foot. Then she stopped and her husband went on the court and gave her a shot in the foot [smiles]. And I had no idea what was going on [laughs]. And the umpire asked me if I wished to continue and of course I didn’t know that she was not allowed to do that. And we continued and I lost the match (75 63).”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Oh well I lost to Chris Evert in the final of the French Open in 1980, 62 60. That was embarrassing.”
Players You Like To Watch: “Today I will go with the player I represent (Simona Halep). I like to watch (Alexander) Zverev. I just watched him a little bit (at Miami Open). Federer of course. How could I not like Roger Federer? Absolutely incredible. Such a genius. And Serena, Venus. I still like to watch them.”
Why Do You Love Tennis: “I was a natural athlete. I think tennis picked me. Because one day I was playing soccer. So I was probably a little bit fast, athletic. So I was playing soccer when I was eight, with the boys. And this gentleman knocked on my shoulder during, and said, Would you like to come play tennis? There was a club in front of my home. Nobody took me to tennis before. So I said, Sure, why not? That’s how I started tennis. So I think tennis picked me.”
Best You Ever Felt On Court: “The best I felt was when I won the French Open. I really played great tennis. The best I could. Ok, there were many other great matches. Even against Chris Evert, who beat me more than twenty times. I had a few good matches. One in Wimbledon when I was up a set and a break. But I still lost the match.”
Favorite Tournaments: “I grew up on clay. So the French and Rome. Wimbledon is a special one.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. Modesty. And charm.”
Career Accomplishments: “Winner of 12 career WTA singles titles and 16 doubles titles. Highest career ranking was no. 8 in the world in May, 1979.
