IT WAS apt that Ilie Nastase, the tennis player with the playboy reputation, spent yesterday morning playing the game in Edinburgh with six lovely ladies.

All through the matches, Nastase, now 51, talked life, love, money, and even Romania's chances in the football World Cup with his string of opponents, who had paid for the privilege of taking him on.

When asked by one of them whether he was getting a bit too old for tennis, the former Wimbledon finalist replied: ''I'm not old enough to play golf and games like that. I am still making love.''

Nastase, the darling of the centre court in the 1970s, was in the capital to launch the Scottish Tennis Championships in which he will play at Craiglockhart Sports Centre from September 7 to 13. Around #30,000 worth of prize-money will be on offer for the men and around #15,000 for the women in an event which organisers hope will generate big crowds.

Tournament director Peter Nicholson said that the American Peter Fleming and former British No.1 Jeremy Bates would take part as well as a number of players, still to be confirmed, who are currently on the tennis tour.

By his own admission Nastase now has an ''air bag'' in his stomach where he used to have muscle, his hair is a bit more lank and his pace round the court had deteriorated to a crawl. Even so, the magnetism which captivated the world in the early 1970s, when he won the singles and doubles titles in the French and US Opens, is still apparent.

As he held talks behind the main courts at Craiglockhart, Nastase tried to be diplomatic about the current state of men's tennis but could not hide his concern over the lack of charisma in the sport.

''When I used to play people like Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe it was a more exciting game. In our time it was different and maybe the improvement in rackets and balls has made it more faster, more serveand-volley. The kids today watch tennis on television and want to copy what they see by Pete Sampras and the other players.''

Nastase expressed surprise at the lack of rapport by the current crop of players and the supporters who come to tournaments.

''When I played I liked to talk to the young girls. Today's players don't give things back to tennis. Even when they win they are unhappy and I don't understand that. I don't think they play with passion, they look like they are forced to play tennis, and they don't enjoy it. I don't see any reason when you win not to be happy. I find it sad to see people like that.''

Nastase, whose only other playing appearance in Scotland was 25 years ago at Meadowbank stadium, never received a coaching lesson until he was 14 and said because of that he enjoyed his childhood, something he felt many current players had not had the opportunity to do.

''When I was a young player I had to book my flights, buy my tickets, do everything as well as play tennis. Because of that it made me more aware of what was going on in the world and I grew up taking responsibility.

''Now the current tennis players from the time they are children have people to do all that for them and just go down on the tennis court and hit balls without saying hello to anybody as they do it.

''I remember every year when I was playing Wimbledon I would go up to the bar, win or lose, and have a drink with people. Now they go to the dressing-room and sometimes don't even know the name of their colleagues.''

Nastase, who ran for the post of mayor of Bucharest unsuccessfully two years ago, said he had made strong friendships among his rival players like American Jimmy Connors - who is godfather to one of his children - and John McEnroe, friendships which he felt players nowadays had no chance of having because of the self-centred nature of the sport.

Looking towards Wimbledon, Nastase felt that out of the British hopefuls Tim Henman had a better chance as he was a more complete player than Greg Rudeski, despite the fact Rudeski was higher up the world rankings.

Nastase felt Andre Agassi's style of play and persona had been good for the game and that Pete Sampras, despite being criticised for a lack of charisma, had been a good ambassador for the sport.

The Romanian will be at Wimbledon this year but also hopes to be in France to watch Romania in the World Cup. Football is Nastase's second love and, as vice-president of Steau Bucharest, believes players who have been involved in their set-up like Hagi and Dumitrescu can take the team through to the later stages of the tournament.

As he settled down for lunch yesterday surrounded by a bevy of women, it looked like he was still very much at home on a tennis court. Certainly his playboy reputation may be fading, but on yesterday's performance, both on and off court, Nastase still has a lot of life left in him.