Wimbledon will not invite Ilie Nastase into the Royal Box at this year’s Championships "after his disgraceful behaviour during Romania’s 3-2 victory against Great Britain" in the Fed Cup World Group II playoffs, according to Fraser & Samoila of the LONDON TIMES. Nastase, the Romania captain, was "provisionally suspended" on Sunday from the Fed Cup after the 70-year-old "hurled abuse" at the British team and journalists. Nastase has "often been seen in the Royal Box at Wimbledon’s Centre Court in recent years, sometimes wearing military uniform in a nod to his rank of retired major-general." However, the All England Club is understood to have "held initial discussions this weekend about his behaviour and plans to inform him in the coming weeks that he will not be invited to the Royal Box this summer." Even if the Int'l Tennis Federation does "not take further action" against Nastase when it concludes its investigation into a "series of flashpoints and obscene comments," it is understood there is "no prospect of a reprieve from Wimbledon." In an "apparent attempt at an apology," Nastase later "arranged for flowers to be delivered to each member of the British team" after the tie. Former England captain Judy Murray "made her feelings clear" on Nastase's gesture. She tweeted, "Like that's going to make everything alright. I know exactly where I'd plant those flowers" (LONDON TIMES, 4/24).
TWO-WEEK WAIT: REUTERS' Karolos Grohmann reported Nastase will have to "wait at least two weeks to discover if he is to face further action" after he was provisionally banned from all ITF events following his verbal abuse. ITF President David Haggerty said, "(The investigation) is ongoing. At this point, one of the principles that is important is that we want a rigorous process that is fair. We will also hear Nastase’s side of the argument. It will be a thorough process conducted in an efficient manner. I do not think you will be hearing any final decisions in the next two weeks" (REUTERS, 4/24).
