Romania captain Ilie Nastase has been suspended by the Int'l Tennis Federation over an "incident that left Johanna Konta in tears on Saturday," according to the BBC. In Konta's Fed Cup match against Sorana Cirstea, Nastase was sent off after "swearing at the umpire and abusing Konta and her captain," Anne Keothavong. He was later "banned from the tie and escorted away from the venue" in Constanța, Romania. But as play continued on Sunday, Nastase, 70, returned to the site. He was later "ordered to leave after entering the VIP restaurant" (BBC, 4/23). In London, Simon Briggs reported Nastase originally "lost his temper" with chair umpire Jaume Campistol after he warned the Romanian crowd that "they might be docked points if they continued to call 'out' during rallies." But as the argument escalated, he twice shouted "----ing bitches" at Keothavong and her No. 1 player, Konta. Nastase's "fury" was "soon being reflected by further foul-mouthed heckling from the Romanian fans." The "fall-out from these astonishing events will be ongoing." In the short term, Nastase had his accreditation for the tie revoked and "faces further sanctions that are sure to include a lengthy ban" (TELEGRAPH, 4/22). Also in London, Jack Austin reported Nastase was heard saying to match umpire Andreas Egli, "it's not the opera, what's your f---ing problem?" after the crowd had been asked to respect the players. It was not the first controversy Nastase caused over the weekend, after he confronted a British reporter and called her "stupid" for her reporting of his "apparently racist comments" about Serena Williams' pregnancy. Romania's captain was "unhappy after his comments were reported about Williams' baby, which is due in the autumn." He reportedly said, "Let's see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?" (INDEPENDENT, 4/23). In London, Barry Flatman reported Nastase "rounded on Eleanor Crooks" of the PA for reporting those remarks, asking, "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 color. He said the English were out to get him" (SUNDAY TIMES, 4/23).
KONTA RESPONDS: The PA reported Konta said that the abuse she received at the Fed Cup tie against Romania "will take time to get over" as Great Britain "slipped to defeat" by the host on Sunday. Konta gave full credit to Simona Halep, whose 6-1, 6-3 victory over the British No. 1 "set the stage for a day of home celebration" at Tenis Club IDU in Constanța. That "left the visitors needing to win both the remaining rubbers but Romania completed the job in the next match" when Irina-Camelia Begu defeated Heather Watson 6-4, 7-5. Konta said, "There's obviously an effect that yesterday had on me. However, it has to be about the tennis and I gave my best today with what I had. I think it'll be something I'll do my best to overcome and to just understand. It's not something I've ever experienced before and I hope never to experience it again. I felt the crowd today were a lot fairer and I felt they supported Simona well." Salt was "rubbed in the wound" when Cirstea gave a press conference after the match accusing Konta of "exaggerating what had happened for her own benefit" (PA, 4/23).
