NASTASE FINE IS DOUBLED AFTER APPEAL OVER KONTA COMMENTS

ILIE NASTASE had mixed results from his appeal against his ban from tennis events, despite it emerging that he appeared to threaten a top official during Great Britain’s stormy Fed Cup tie against Romania last April. The former world No 1 had his period of disqualification slightly reduced for his outbursts against Jo Konta and GB captain Anne Keothavong, but his $10,000 (£7,210) fine was doubled. An independent tribunal report outlined the Romania captain’s outrageous behaviour, including suggestive comments to Keothavong and a racially insensitive remark about the potential colour of Serena Williams’s baby. On the day of Nastase’s appeal, victories for Konta and Heather Watson gave GB a convincing start to this year’s Fed Cup campaign with a dominant 2-0 win against Portugal at the round-robin group stage.