Romanian former tennis legend Ilie Nastase will not be invited to the Royal Box at Wimbledon this summer, tournament organisers have said.
Romania’s Fed Cup captain, a former world number one, is currently under investigation over comments he made about Serena Williams’ unborn child, the BBC informs.
Williams accused Nastase of racism after he was overheard asking if the child would be “chocolate with milk”. He also insulted British player Johanna Konta and captain Anne Keothavong, and called a journalist “stupid”.
Nastase: Have I killed someone?
“Am I allowed to live? Am I allowed to go to London, to enter the city? Ask them this. Maybe I am not allowed to go to Britain anyway. What have I done? Have I killed someone?” Ilie Nastase replied to the decision on Wednesday.
“I have a problem regarding the International Tennis Federation. Until they rule, Wimbledon has no reason to address me. I know one thing and they should be asked about this: in 1973, when no one wanted to play at Wimbledon and I did – doesn’t that matter? Do they think about that? If they are so narrow-minded, what can I do? What is the connection between Wimbledon and what I said about Serena and what happened in Romania? Had I done something at Wimbledon, I would understand. Right now, I don’t,” Nastase added.
Ilie Nastase said he should understand that the British tennis Federation is the same issue with the ITF. “This is what I understand,” he said.
“I don’t get it, what Wimbledon has to do with me? What if the ITF does not suspend me? I played a thousand times at Wimbledon and if, aged 71, one is not allowed to watch some tennis matches… it’s their problem. Saying it plainly, this means they are idiots… this is the only answer,” the former tennis player said.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Wimbledon also announced record prize money of GBP 31.6m for this year’s event, an increase of 12.5% on 2016.