Fed Cup tie suspended by Nastase outburst

Home captain Ilie Nastase has been thrown off the court, leading to the suspension of Great Britain’s Fed Cup tennis playoff against Romania.

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 the crowd.

The 70-year-old former world No.1 was reportedly heard to say to the umpire: “What’s your f***ing problem?”. He then appeared to call British captain Anne Keothavong and Konta “f***ing bitches”.

Nastase was sent off the court by referee Andreas Egli and, after taking a seat in the stands, was then escorted back to the lockerroom.

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 playing the next game in tears and dropping 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.

Romania’s captain was unhappy after his comments were reported about Williams’ baby, which is due in spring. “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?,” he was heard to say on Friday.

On Saturday morning before play started, Nastase stormed into the media centre at the Tennis 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 room at the time.

He said to Ms Crooks: “Why did you write that? You’re stupid, you’re stupid.”

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