Serena slams ‘Nasty’ over baby race slur
SERENA WILLIAMS has hit back at disgraceful comments made about her by Ilie nastase during Great Britain’s fractious Fed Cup tie against romania. Williams said she supports an International Tennis Federation inquiry into the romania captain’s outbursts, which included an apparent reference to the colour of her unborn baby. ‘It disappoints me to know we live in a society where people like Ilie nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and my unborn child, and sexist comments against my peers,’ she said. nastase was thrown out of the arena in Constanta on saturday for verbal abuse and threatening gestures to GB’s Jo Konta and anne Keothavong.
MARIA Sharapova’s opponent for her comeback match disagrees with the Russian being allowed to play in the tournament and believes most players side with her on the issue.
Roberta Vinci, the Italian veteran who will face Sharapova in the first round of the Porsche grand Prix here tomorrow, also reveals the pair have no relationship — despite spending more than 10 years sharing the locker room.
after 15 months, Sharapova is still banned for a doping offence until midnight tonight and has been training at a local tennis centre because she cannot set foot in the stadium before the morning of the match.
It is expected to start around 5.45pm UK time, although world no 35 Vinci does not think the now unranked Russian should have been granted a privileged entry.
‘I don’t agree about the wildcard here and about the wildcard in Rome and the other tournaments,’ said Vinci. ‘I don’t have anything against her. She made her mistakes for sure, but she paid and I think she can return to play, but without any wildcards, any help.
‘Probably she would play two or three tournaments and be in the e top 30 for sure. Probablyy there are a lot of players s who are agreeing with h me about the wildcard.’
The cheerful Vinci, 34, is best known for denying Serena Williams the 2015 calendar grand Slam when she beat her in the US Open semi-final.
She has not had a great season to date, but feels she may be able to take advantage of the unusual indoor clay.
‘This is different kind of clay, it is quick. The most important thing for me is to stay focused on every single point because probably she can play good for maybe two games and then go a little bit down. Concentration is not easy when you come back to play after a long time.’
Sharapova’s standing in the locker room has not been helped by her agent, Max Eisenbud, describing forformer world nos 1 and 2 Caroline Wozniacki and agnieszka Radwanska as ‘journeyman players’, who want to stop his client playing in the grand Slams to improve their own chances.
The wildcard controversy has continued unabated, with members of the german Fed Cup team — which defeated Ukraine at this same Porsche arena over the weekend — unhappy at the lack of spaces for them in the field. Only one, laura Siegemund, has received a wildcard.
german no 2 Julia goerges, ranked 46, did not get one after another was handed out to Britain’s world no 7 Jo Konta. She arrived here yesterday from GB’s traumatic Fed Cup defeat in Romania. World no 2 angelique Kerber lost the world no 1 ranking yesterday to Serena Williams by a mathematical quirk.
The pregnant Williams posted another picture of herself on Instagram, with a caption addressed to her baby: ‘I can’t wait for you to join the players’ box next year. But most importantly, I am so happy to share being no1 in the world with you — once again today.’ DAN EVANS held his nerve to claim his first ATP Tour win on clay in the Barcelona Open, beating Thiago Monteiro 6-7, 6-2, 7-6. He will play Mischa Zverez in the second round.
Fellow Briton Kyle Edmund brushed aside Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6- 3, 6- 4 to set up a second round meeting with world no 9 dominic Thiem.