Mixed Doubles Tennis Championships : ‘Mellow’ Nastase’s Tongue Still Has Some Bite

Though some friends may still call him “Nasty,” Ilie Nastase has lost much of the bad-boy temperament that made him one of the most talked about tennis players of the 1970s.

Nastase, 40, sports a more demure personality, tamed by the daily rituals of fatherhood (he has a daughter, Natalie, 12) and long days on the road.

This week, the road has brought him to the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club, where, along with other players such as Vitas Gerulaitis, Stan Smith and Virginia Wade, he will play in the Ford Sports Mixed Doubles Tennis Championships through Sunday.

“I’ve mellowed a lot in my tennis,” Nastase said. “I’ve mellowed on the court, but off the court, more so.”

Nastase feels that much of the public’s perception of him throughout his career was based on misunderstanding. He admits that his attitude wasn’t always angelic but disagrees when labeled as a poor sport.

“I always gave 100% when I played,” he said. “My temper wasn’t exactly cool, no. But winning was everything to me, and I had to play the way I knew best. That’s what makes tennis such a great game. Everyone has a different style.

Though he admits that today’s tennis is more physically demanding, Nastase feels that most of the younger players rely more on a routine style instead of individually challenging themselves.

“Today’s players are made; there’s not as much talent,” he said. “They just pick up balls and hit four hours a day, everyday. They just toss and spin, toss and spin. They don’t know what tennis is anymore. They should play their own games.”

Nastase doesn’t do much coaching of younger players because he feels it would add too much extra pressure to his busy life.

“Coaching is the same thing as playing, only worse,” he said. “There’s more pressure when you have to sit in the stands and watch. No, I’ve been playing for 24 years. I just want to relax.”

Results, Schedule: Thursday’s results: Anne Smith and Raul Ramirez def. Virginia Wade and Vitas Gerulaitis, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Bonnie Gadusek and Dick Stockton def. Ann White and Jamie Filol, 6-3, 7-5.

Tonight’s matches: Nastase and Robin White vs. Trey Waltke and Melissa Gurney, 7:30; Peanut Louie Harper and Jose Higueras vs. Joanne Russel and Stan Smith, 9 p.m.