Outbursts earn Nastase ban from Fed Cup tie

GREAT Britain’s Fed Cup play-off against Romania was sensationally suspended after home captain Ilie Nastase was thrown off the court. With Johanna Konta leading Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 1-2 in the second rubber in Constanta, Nastase became embroiled in a row apparently about noise from the crowd.

The 70-year-old former world No 1 reportedly asked the umpire: “What’s your f***ing problem?”. He then appeared to call Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong and Konta “f***ing bitches”.

Nastase was sent off the court by tie referee Andreas Egli and, after taking a seat in the stands, was then escorted back to the locker room. The International Tennis Federation said last night that he had been banned from the rest of the tie, and that a formal investigation had been launched into his behaviour yesterday and his earlier comments about Serena Williams’ pregnancy.

After the suspension of play, Simona Halep, who had beaten Heather Watson in the opening rubber, explained to the crowd what had happened. Konta’s match briefly resumed but she was visibly upset and, after she played the next game in tears and dropped serve, the players left the court.

Earlier Nastase had launched into an astonishing rant at a British journalist, calling her “stupid” for reporting his apparently racist comment about Williams’ pregnancy. As Nastase was escorted out of the Tenis Club IDU he again confronted British journalists and had to be restrained by security before being driven away. The match between Konta and Cirstea eventually resumed, with the British player winning the five games in succession to record a 6-2, 6-3 victory and level the World Group II play-off at 1-1.

Nastase was unhappy after his comments about Williams’ baby were reported. “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?,” he was heard to say on Friday.

Before play started yesterday, Nastase stormed into the press centre to seek out the British media. Press Association Sport tennis correspondent Eleanor Crooks was the only member of the British media present. He said to her “Why did you write that? You’re stupid, you’re stupid.”

Crooks said: “He repeatedly called me stupid, asked me why what he said was racist. I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about colour. He said the English were out to get him and called me stupid a few more times. Fortunately he was across the other side of the room from me and there were other journalists around.”

Williams said on Wednesday she is expecting her first child with fiance Alexis Ohanian, who is white.

Nastase had earlier clearly made Keothavong, who is also pregnant, feel uncomfortable with a number of inappropriate remarks. He asked for her room number during the official dinner, then repeated the request when the captains posed together for photographs after Friday’s draw while putting his arm tightly round Keothavong’s shoulder.

After defeating Watson 6-4, 6-1 to put Romania 1-0 up, Halep offered qualified support to Nastase but said he should apologise to Williams.