The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has launched an investigation after home captain Ilie Nastase was sensationally thrown off the court, leading to the suspension of Great Britain’s Fed Cup play-off against Romania.

With Johanna Konta leading Sorana Cirstea 6-2 1-2 in the second rubber in Constanta, Nastase became embroiled in a row seemingly stemming from crowd noise.

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 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 playing the next game in tears and dropping serve, the players left the court. Play resumed about 25 minutes later and the Briton won five straight games for a 6-2 6-3 victory to level the tie.

Earlier, Nastase had launched into an astonishing rant at a British journalist, calling her stupid for reporting his comment about Serena Williams’ pregnancy.

“Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?,” he was heard to say on Friday.

On Saturday morning Nastase stormed into the media centre to seek out the British press.

Eleanor Crooks of the Press Association was the only member of the British media present.

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

The tirade took place in front of Romanian media and, according to Crooks, lasted for more than two minutes.

”He repeatedly called me stupid, asked me why what he said was racist,” Crooks said.

”I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about colour. He said the English were out to get him and called me stupid a few more times.

”He did not dispute the accuracy of what was reported.”

Williams announced on Wednesday she is expecting her first child with fiance Alexis Ohanian, who is white.

Nastase was not asked about Williams himself on Friday, but made the comment, in Romanian and clearly audible, to the other players while Romanian No.1 Simona Halep was answering a question about the 23-time grand slam singles champion.

It is the second controversy caused by Nastase about Williams in a month.

In an interview with Romanian media, he made unsubstantiated allegations of doping by Williams based on her physique.

Nastase also clearly made Keothavong feel uncomfortable with a number of inappropriate remarks, repeatedly asking for her room number and tightly putting his arm around her shoulder during official photographs.

After defeating Watson Halep offered qualified support to Nastase but said he should apologise to Williams.

”He’s joking all the time and I’m 100 per cent that was a joke,” the world No.5, who asked for Nastase to be made captain, said:

”We cannot get upset on Ilie, he’s like that and he’s with us the same.

”I hope the ITF will understand and they will leave it like this because it was a joke. I want him as a captain in the future as well.”