Nastase vs Gonzalez

[kishnabe]

Who would win when playing at their best: Pancho Gonzales or Ilie Nastase?

Both are violent talented champions......

[pc1]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Who would win when playing at their best: Pancho Gonzales or Ilie Nastase?

Both are violent talented champions......

Have to go with Pancho Gonzalez.

[robow7]

Would be fun to watch, throw in a few close disputed line calls and it could get really fun. I'm thinking Gonzo pulls it out.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Who would win when playing at their best: Pancho Gonzales or Ilie Nastase?

Both are violent talented champions......

At their best? Obviously Gonzales. Nastase was a great player, but Gonzales is on another level and would have killed Nasty on those 1950s pro tours.

[Limpinhitter]

I'd give the edge to Nastase on clay. On every other surface, Gonzales would have a winning record by a pretty wide margin. BTW, although Nastase has a hot temper, he wilts when confronted. He quit a match after being grabbed by his collar by Clark Graebner, and he was chased off of the court by Adriano Panatta after insulting Panatta's sister.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

I'd give the edge to Nastase on clay. On every other surface, Gonzales would have a winning record by a pretty wide margin. BTW, although Nastase has a hot temper, he wilts when confronted. He quit a match after being grabbed by his collar by Clark Graebner, and he was chased off of the court by Adriano Panatta after insulting Panatta's sister.

There's that famous match against Tanner at the 1974 US Open as well, where Tanner got so sick of Nastase stalling his serves, and talking to someone courtside, that Tanner went up to the net and said that he'd smash Nastase with his racquet if he stalled his serve again. Tanner won 4-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Mustard

There's that famous match against Tanner at the 1974 US Open as well, where Tanner got so sick of Nastase stalling his serves, and talking to someone courtside, that Tanner went up to the net and said that he'd smash Nastase with his racquet if he stalled his serve again. Tanner won 4-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Hahaha! I hadn't heard that one.

[urban]

Nastase was a great indoor player, too, winning Wembley 1971, the Masters 4 times, the US indoor at Salisbury 1970 and other important indoor events. Would be a very interesting matchup.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by urban

Nastase was a great indoor player, too, winning Wembley 1971, the Masters 4 times, the US indoor at Salisbury 1970 and other important indoor events. Would be a very interesting matchup.

Nasty on clay, even on grass, even indoors and Gonzales on hard.It would be very close at the long term.

Of course, providing Nastase gave his best always.Gonzales always did, but Nastase only did it when inspired.I have seen Nasty many times but no Gonzales, so my opinion is merely by instinct.

[timnz]

Anyone know the matches they played? I know that Gonzales would have been in his 40's so not exactly at his peak - but I'd still be interested in that. We know that Gonzales was still active until 1972/1973 and that Nastase came onto the scene in the late 1960's - so it is possible they met.

I do know that Nastase/Connors beat Gonzales/Tom Gorman in doubles in South Orange in 1973.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by timnz

Anyone know the matches they played? I know that Gonzales would have been in his 40's so not exactly at his peak - but I'd still be interested in that. We know that Gonzales was still active until 1972/1973 and that Nastase came onto the scene in the late 1960's - so it is possible they met.

I do know that Nastase/Connors beat Gonzales/Tom Gorman in doubles in South Orange in 1973.

According to the ITF website, Gonzales and Nastase never played against each other in singles.