Nastase

Nastase is a Romanian surname. In Romanian writing the name is typically spelled Năstase, with a diacritic on the a, but the form Nastase without diacritics is also common in English-language usage. The surname is of Romanian linguistic origin and is found among Romanians and people of Romanian descent.

The best-known bearer is Ilie Năstase (born 1946), a former professional tennis player who rose to prominence in the early 1970s. Năstase reached the world No. 1 ranking in 1973 and was one of the sport’s leading figures during the Open Era. He won multiple Grand Slam titles and was known for his creative shot-making, on-court charisma, and sometimes controversial behavior. His achievements helped raise the profile of Romanian tennis on the international stage, and he later remained active in the sport through coaching, administration, and commentary. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game.

Beyond Ilie Năstase, the surname appears among other Romanians in various fields, including sports, politics, and academia. Spelling variations, particularly the omission of diacritics, reflect language differences and transliteration practices in different countries and contexts.

Năstase remains a recognizable name in Romanian culture and in the history of tennis, serving as a reference point for discussions of Romanian athletic achievement and the broader development of professional tennis in the 20th century.