Nastase turns nasty
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 thecrowd.
The 70-year-old former world No 1 was reportedly heard swearing at the umpire and Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong and Konta.
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.
Simona Halep, who had beaten Heather Watson in the opening rubber, explained to the crowd what had happened and appealed for calm before play briefly resumed.
But Konta 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 Serena 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.
An official response from the International Tennis Federation was not immediately forthcoming but the punishment is sure to be severe.
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 were reported about Williams’ baby, which is due in the autumn. “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?,” he was heard to say on Friday.
Yesterday morning before play started, Nastase stormed into the press centre at the Tenis Club IDU to seek out the British media.
Press Association Sport tennis correspondent Eleanor Crooks was the only member of the British media present in the press room at the time.
He said to Ms Crooks: “Why did you write that? You’re stupid, you’re stupid.”
The tirade took place in front of a number of members of the Romanian media and, according to Ms Crooks, lasted between two and three minutes.
Press Association Sport has sent details of Nastase’s outburst to the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Ms 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.”
Williams announced on Wednesday she is expecting her first child with fiance Alexis Ohanian, who is white.