The Romanian gave great entertainment in his day, but he has crossed a line with his abuse of Johanna Konta, Anne Keothavong and Serena Williams
It is 45 years since Centre Court at Wimbledon rose to applaud the charismatic entertainer that was Ilie Nastase, loser of a memorable five-set final against the American Stan Smith. After the Romanian’s appalling behaviour in Constanta this weekend during Great Britain’s Fed Cup tie against the home team he coaches, it is unlikely a British audience will ever again give him such rapturous acclaim.
When the 70-year-old Nastase reduced Johanna Konta to tears in the second set of her match against Sorana Cirstea on Saturday by calling her, “a fucking bitch” he transformed a mere sporting event into ugly farce.
Related: Ilie Nastase sparks Fed Cup chaos with foul-mouthed outburst in Romania v GB
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