Never a contender for a Grand Slam title, Ilie was nonetheless a fan favourite, developing an almost cult-like following whenever he played at the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne.
Never a contender for a Grand Slam title, Ilie was nonetheless a fan favorite. Described in 2001 by tennis writer Jon Wertheim as "an emerging cult hero", Ilie developed an avid following whenever he played at the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne.