Dubai: Former world number one Ilie Nastase feels that great sportsmen such as Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher and Roger Federer have a lot more to prove on the global stage.
"I guess Michael Schumacher is already one of the greatest champions. And if he wins his eighth world title it would be quite special," Nastase told Gulf News in an e-mail interview.
Nastase will be one of the seven stars at this year's The Legends Rock Dubai to be held at the Madinat Jumeirah from October 31-November 2. The romanian ace will be joined by Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Mansour Bahrami, Guy Forget, Henri Leconte, Emilio Sanchez and Peter McNamara during the three-day seniors festival.
The temperamental Romanian, who now spends a lot of time on the seniors tour in an attempt to further the cause of the sport, puts Federer and Woods on par with the Schumacher.
"Both Federer and Woods are great champions.
"But we have to give them time to enjoy their careers and reach whatever greatness their incredible talent reserves for them. They have many years in front of them," Nastase said.
This will be Nastase's second straight visit to Dubai for The Legends Rock Dubai event organised by Delwood Consultancy Services.
The three-day event will see some of the top stars of yesteryears, including a final on-court battle between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.
"I enjoyed my trip to Dubai last year and I am really looking forward to this time," Nastase said.
"I feel I am coming to a very special place and that people enjoy our presence in Dubai.
"This is important to me."
Nastase has been one of the games greatest exponents. As a player he was known for his erratic on-court behaviour. But that did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest ever on the men's tour being the world number one in 1973 and 1974 along with 57 career singles titles.
"In those days there was less pressure from the media, coaches and the public," Nastase recalled.
"As players we used to beat each other on the court, and then go out and have fun together. This does not exist anymore," he lamented.
Players today out too much emphasis on achieving their goals. "Federer and Nadal respect each other tremendously, but don't know each other as much as we used to," Nastase said.
"But theirs will be a great rivalry that we will enjoy," he added. Nastase also had a word of praise for American Andre Agassi.
"Andre will be remembered as a great champion and a great human being. And when a champion retires, you cannot talk statistics. What a player like Borg brought to the game is inestimable. But right next to him, you have a champion like Agassi."
