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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Andy Lines & Paul Martin

"Send me to prison if you want": Ilie Nastase REFUSES to apologise for f-word outburst at Johanna Konta

Tennis legend Ilie Nastase last night said he was not sorry at his foul-mouthed “f***ing b****s” bust-up with British women tennis stars.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror he said: “I don’t regret it and they can send me to prison if they want - I don’t care.”

The controversial star sparking uproar after calling Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong and her team-mate Johanna Konta “f***ing bitches” during a Federation Cup tie.

He is already under investigation for making a racist jibe about the colour of Serena Williams’s unborn baby.

He admitted abusing the British women and said: “I’m invited to Wimbledon every year by the All England club - it’s a special day.

“The probably won’t invite me this year but I don’t care really.

Romania's head coach Nastase unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade (REUTERS)
GB player Johanna Konta was left visibly shaken (REUTERS)

“I was just trying to promote the interest of my girl.

“The English player just stormed off without even asking permission to leave the court and I admit that’s when I called her a bitch.

“She kept trying to keep the crowd quiet - but it’s not an opera it’s a game.

“These people want to make a tennis match like a silent movie.

Nastase has words with the umpire (REUTERS)

“I don’t need this bullsh*t. I’m 70 years old. I don’t even get paid for being team captain.

“I don’t’ give a sh*t if they fine me or don’t let me sit in the captain’s chair.

“Remember I was world number one if you throw someone out who was a world number one - it’s not good for tennis.”

Referring to his comments about Serena Williams pregnancy he said “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

He is escorted away from the court (REUTERS)

Last week he was heard speaking in Romanian: “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?”

The latest insult from Nastase led to him being thrown off the court, and Great Britain’s Federation Cup play-off against Romania was temporarily suspended.

Konta was visibly traumatised and in tears. She later resumed and won the match.

Anne Keothavong reacts to the outburst (REUTERS)

The latest controversy to engulf the 70-year-old former world No 1 erupted after he became embroiled in a row about noise from the crowd.

Nastase, who is Romania’s Fed Cup captain, now faces a lengthy ban from tennis.

The world governing body said it was looking into “this matter as well as previous comments made by Mr Nastase during the week”.

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