Nastase has blast after he’s snubbed

ILIE Nastase accused the All England Club of being “small-minded” after it was announced he will not be invited to the Royal Box at Wimbledon this year.

The block on Nastase being afforded his usual welcome to the exclusive seats follows the Romanian’s behaviour at last month’s Fed Cup tie between Romania and Great Britain.

Maria Sharapova, however, may find a return to Wimbledon easier to come by.

All England Club chairman Philip Brook said a decision on whether to award her a wildcard will be made on June 20.

Romania team captain Nastase, 70, was ejected from the match in Constant following a foulmouthed tirade directed at his British counterpart Anne Keothavong and the British No 1 player Johanna Konta.

It was one of a series of incidents for which he is now awaiting sanction by the International Tennis Federation.

Brook condemned Nastase’s actions, adding: “He (Nastase) is not going to receive an invitation this year.”

Nastase did not take long to respond, accusing the All England Club of being “small-minded” and of treating Romanians like “morons”.

In an interview, Nastase also accused Wimbledon officials of having short memories, after he was one of only four seeded men’s players to defy a boycott of the event by players’ body the Association of Tennis Professionals in 1973.

Nastase said: “Look at it however you want, revenge maybe? I don’t care.

“In 1973, when everyone else refused to play at Wimbledon but I did — does that not count for something? Do they not think about that?

“But if they are going to be so small-minded about it, there’s nothing I can do.”