Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
ROUND-UP Nastase has no regrets about shock conduct
ILIE Nastase was unrepentant about his Fed Cup expulsion and insisted he does not care what punishment he is given.
The Romania Fed Cup captain was thrown out of the World Group II play-off against Great Britain after swearing at officials, GB captain Anne Keothavong and world No 7 Johanna Konta.
Nastase was heard to swore at Keothavong and Konta after the British team complained about calls from the crowd during points.
The 70-year-old said: “I don’t regret it and they can send me to prison if they want. I don’t care.
“I was just trying to promote the interest of my girl. The English player just stormed off without asking permission to leave the court.
“She kept trying to keep the crowd quiet but it’s not an opera it’s a game.
“I don’t need this. I’m 70 years old. I don’t even get paid for being team captain. I don’t care if they fine me or don’t let me sit in the captain’s chair.
“Remember I was world No 1. If you throw someone out who was a world No 1, it’s not good for tennis.”
Nastase has been provisionally suspended from all ITF events pending a full investigation and is sure to face severe punishment.
Not that he paid attention to his ban from the tie, brazenly walking through the front door of Tennis Club IDU yesterday, shortly after Romania had clinched victory, and headed for the VIP lounge.
Nastase left an hour later after reportedly sending flowers for the British team and Keothavong to their locker room.
Nastase was already being investigated by the ITF for an apparently racist remark about Serena Williams’ unborn baby on Friday.
He refused to apologise for that, too, saying: “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”
Fired up by the situation, Romania gleefully celebrated their victory after Simona Halep defeated a subdued Konta 6-1 6-3 and IrinaCamelia Begu edged out Heather Watson 6-4 7-5.
The home team felt aggrieved Konta had been allowed to stop her match against Sorana Cirstea a game after Nastase’s foul-mouthed tirade.
Konta became tearful after experiencing abuse from the crowd and insisted the threat she felt had not been exaggerated, as claimed by Cirstea and her team-mates.
“With all due respect to Sorana, she was not in my shoes on that end of the court being verbally threatened,” said Konta.
“Any abuse is not all right and when it’s a couple of metres away from you, screaming at you, that’s a different ball game.”
The defeat means Britain’s wait to reach the elite level of the competition will continue into a 25th year as they again contemplate t he dreaded Europe/Africa Zone.
RAFAEL Nadal landed a record 10th title at the MonteCarlo Rolex Masters to make ATP history.
The Spaniard swept aside Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1 6-3 in 76 minutes to become the first player in the open era to win a singles tournament 10 times.
The triumph also earned Nadal, the fourth seed, his 50th clay-court crown, another new record.
“It has been an amazing week on one of the most important events on the tour,” Nadal said.
“I played well here, which helps me a lot to start the clay court season with confidence.”
He carved out 11 break points, converting two in each set, while did not face a single one himself.