Nastase's cringeworthy question to British captain
Having been ejected from a Fed Cup tie against Britain, video has now emerged of tennis legend Ilie Nastase asking a highly inappropriate question to his female opposite.
The disgraced Romanian captain has come under fire for swearing at an umpire during his country's tie against Britain and verbally abusing two of the British players.
IN TEARS: Nastase tirade leaves Konta distraught
But perhaps the most awkward moment involving the 70-year-old came during the official team press conferences and photo opportunities as he posed for a picture with Britain's Anne Keothavong.
Nastase could be heard asking the pregnant British captain for her hotel room number before the pair embraced for the cameras.
Keothavong seemed stunned by the question. Pic: AP
Keothavong tried her best to smile through the cringing, but appeared to be more than a little taken aback by the shocking question.
Nastase is at the centre of an International Tennis Federation (ITF) investigation after being thrown off the court in his country'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.
Nastase argues with the referee. Pic: BT Sport
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.
Cirstea later hit out at Konta, accusing her of having a thin skin.
Konta was left visibly upset by the abuse. Pic: BT Sport
"I'm not happy," she said. "Johanna, speaking tennis wise, she was better than me today. My problem was, and I still do not understand, why the match was stopped at 2-1.
"I did not hear what Ilie said, I understand you take Ilie out, perfect. Then we play another game, I win it, and then suddenly you started crying and let's go off the court.
"I've played all over the world, they called me from gypsy to bitch to a***hole to idiot. They were doing like (mimes slitting throat) to me. I never cried and left the court, I stay there and I play.
My already immense respect for @JoKonta91 has just gone stratospheric. Impressed with @annekeothavong too. Odious Ilie Nastase, less so.
— Catherine Whitaker (@CWhitakerSport) April 22, 2017
Been 14 solid months now of old dudes in power being shitty to women's tennis players. Some institutional fix from on high is called for.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) April 22, 2017
Ilie Nastase needs a smack.
Vile little man.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 22, 2017
Hard to believe but Nasty used to be even worse than this.
Talent and temper in equal measure. #FedCup #Nastase— Andrew Castle (@AndrewCastle63) April 22, 2017
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.
"This was a joke," Nastase explained on Saturday. "If someone didn't understand it, they lack humour... they have their own humour and we have our humour."
Nastase escorted back to the locker rooms pic.twitter.com/4M9Ck4Frng
— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) April 22, 2017
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.
WATCH - here is video of Ilie Nastase verbally abusing @pasport tennis corr @EleanorcrooksPA after he was chucked out of Fed Cup match. pic.twitter.com/sK6FUF09kg
— PA Sport (@pasport) April 22, 2017
"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.
I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about colour," she said. "He said the English were out to get him. 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.
Williams wins the Australian Open. Pic: Getty
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.