Romanian tennisman Ilie Nastase will be honorary consul of the Czech Republic to Romania. Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek announced after a meeting with the Romanian tennis icon on Friday that Nastase agreed to become the Czech Republic’s new honorary consul in Romania. He will be based in the Black Sea port of Constanta.
“It’s a great honor,” Nastase said. “My country didn’t give me this chance but you gave me this chance and I appreciate it.”
The Romanian tennis great has been banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years because of his foul-mouthed comments and bad behavior as Romania’s Fed Cup captain.
Nastase was provisionally suspended in April after he speculated about the skin color of the baby that Serena Williams was expecting, and for outbursts during the Fed Cup matches against Britain where he hurled abuse at opposing player Johanna Konta. He also made advances of a sexual nature toward Britain captain Anne Keothavong.