Now Nasty Nastase leaves our tennis girl in tears
FRIDAY Tennis legend ‘Nasty Nastase’ in sexism storm as he pesters UK captain YESTERDAY He is banished from court after ‘f ****** b **** ’ outburst that reduced our No1 player to tears
BRITAIN’S No 1 female tennis player Johanna Konta was reduced to tears yesterday after being called a ‘b **** ’ by two-time Grand Slam champion Ilie Nastase during an astonishing on-court tirade.
Nastase, 70, screamed the abuse at Konta and Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong, calling them ‘f ****** b ***** s’ amid ugly scenes at the Fed Cup tie. The Romanian team captain – nicknamed ‘Nasty’ – was ejected from the court.
Nastase is already being investigated by the International Tennis Federation over racist and sexist comments earlier in the week.
Yesterday’s drama in the Black Sea resort of Constanta began with Konta a set ahead and in control against Sorana Cirstea in the second rubber – or match – of the day.
Spanish umpire Jaume Campistol warned the rowdy crowd about respecting the players before Nastase angrily shouted: ‘It’s not the opera, what’s your f ****** problem?’
He was warned about his language but continued to argue and was sent to the stand. As he left the court, Nastase turned to face Keothavong and Konta, twice calling them ‘f ****** b ***** s’. Keothavong, close to tears, reported his comments to the umpire, telling him: ‘I’m not being talked to like that – it’s unacceptable.’
Nastase, by now sitting in the front row of the stand, was expelled from the stadium by tournament referee Andreas Egli, of Switzerland, whom he called a ‘f ****** a***hole’ as the crowd roared ‘Ilie! Ilie! Ilie!’ The match resumed for one game before Keothavong intervened, claiming it could not continue, and play was suspended. When play resumed, Konta sealed an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Nastase was later escorted from the venue by several burly security guards. His accreditation was removed and the ITF said ‘he will play no further part in the tie’.
The controversial former champion was already facing sanctions after making a racist comment about the colour of Serena Williams’s unborn child at a press conference. He loudly joked about what colour the black American star’s baby would be, suggesting ‘chocolate with milk’. He also twice pestered Keothavong, 33 – who is 18 weeks pregnant with her second child – for her hotel room number.
Nastase was famous for his on-court antics, including smashing rackets and playing with an umbrella when rain stopped play.
At Wimbledon’s Centre Court, he once told the Duke of Kent, who was chatting in the Royal Box: ‘Shut up, please, Sir.’