Ilie Nastase

March 26, 1976: the day Ilie Nastase was famously defaulted in Palm Springs

Every day Tennis Majors takes you back in time to celebrate a great moment in tennis history. Today, we go back to 1976 to witness how, after a week of antics, gamesmanship and provocation, Ilie Nastase was finally defaulted from the American Airlines Games quarter-finals, while he was trailing 6-3, 2-1 against Roscoe Tanner

Alexandre Sokolowski

March 26, 2026

John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, On This Day

February 24, 1984: The day Connors and McEnroe finally joined forces for the Davis Cup

Connors had never played a tie with McEnroe until February 24, 1984, with the United States playing Romania in Bucharest. The Americans won the tie, but were unable to grab the trophy at the end of the season

Alexandre Sokolowski

February 24, 2026

October 10, 1971: The day Stan Smith and the United States won the last ever Davis Cup to use the “Challenge Round”

Every day, Tennis Majors looks back to the one of the biggest moments in tennis history. On this day in 1971, Stan Smith beat Ion Tiriac in straight sets to win the last Davis Cup "Challenge Round" in tennis history for the American team

Alexandre Sokolowski

October 10, 2025

August 30, 1979: The day McEnroe and Nastase played one of the most tumultuous matches in tennis history

Every day, Tennis Majors takes you back in time to relive a tennis event which happened on this specific day. On this day, August 30, 1979, John McEnroe and Ilie Nastase played a match wherein fights broke out in the stands and the police were called to prevent a riot

Alexandre Sokolowski

August 30, 2025

August 23, 1973: The day Ilie Nastase was crowned the first world No 1 in ATP history

Every day Tennis Majors looks back at the biggest moments in tennis history. Today, we go back to 1973 to witness how the first-ever ATP rankings list was published

Alexandre Sokolowski

August 23, 2025

12 months ago

April 5, 1975: The day Ilie Nastase nearly forfeited a match but resumed to beat Ken Rosewall

Each day, Tennis Majors takes you back in time to an important moment...

Alexandre Sokolowski

1 year ago

October 2, 1977: The day Nastase and his spaghetti racquet frustrated Vilas

Every day, Tennis Majors goes back in time to reflect on a significant...

Alexandre Sokolowski