Former world no 1 and bad boy, Ilie Nastase has landed in hot water following racist remarksabout Serena Williams’ pregnancy on the eve of Romania’s Fed Cup play-off against Great Britain.
‘Nasty’ Nastase made the comment Friday, during a press conference to preview the tie in Constanta, in which he said of Williams’ baby, due later this year: “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?”
Serena stunned the world Wednesday when she announced she was expecting her first child with fiance Alexis Ohanian, who is white, and will return to the tour in 2018.
Nastase, now a senator and current Romania team captain, made the comment in Romanian to the other players while the country’s number one, Simona Halep was answering a question about the 23-time grand slam singles champion, Mirror writes.
These remarks come after Nastase, earlier this month, absurdly accused Williams of doping as a result of her physique and on-court domination.
The International Tennis Federation said in a statement that the situation is under investigation.
“The ITF does not tolerate discriminatory and offensive language and behaviour of any kind,”the statement said.
“We are aware of alleged comments made by Romanian captain Ilie Nastase and have begun an immediate investigation so that we have the full facts of the situation before taking further and appropriate action.”
Icon or not, Ilie Nastase’s unsolicited and ignorant comment about Serena’s pregnancy is deplorable. @ITF_Tennis take action.
— MrEnterta1nment (@MrEnterta1nment) April 21, 2017
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Nastase won the US Open in 1972 and French Open 1973, finishing runner-up at Wimbledon in 1972 and 1976.
Now a senator in the Romanian Parliament, the four-time married Nastase once estimated he had slept with up to 900 women, in line with his reputation as a playboy during and after his playing career.
Here’s Nastase asking Keothavong for her room number. You’ll have to lip read but it’s not difficult http://pic.twitter.com/uft5uzoblK
— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) April 21, 2017
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