Ilie Nastase under investigation for Serena pregnancy comments, match ejection

Ilie Nastase, the former world No. 1 and Romania's Fed Cup captain, is under investigation by the International Tennis Federation regarding alleged misconduct during Saturday's tie against Great Britain as well as comments he made earlier in the week concerning Serena Williams' pregnancy.

The ITF released the following statement Saturday:

Romanian captain Ilie Nastase was removed from the court during the second rubber of the Fed Cup tie between Romania and Great Britain in Constanta. Mr. Nastase was asked to leave the court by ITF referee Andreas Egli for unsportsmanlike conduct, having already received two official warnings. Mr. Nastase was also removed from the grounds due to his serious misconduct. His accreditation was removed and he will play no further part in the tie. The ITF has launched an investigation into this matter as well as previous comments made by Mr. Nastase during the week.

Nastase launched a profanity-laced tirade during the match between Great Britain's Johanna Konta and Romania's Sorana Cirstea, aiming his insults at both Konta and the umpire, the Guardian's Laurence Ostlere reports. The two-time Grand Slam singles champion allegedly called Konta and Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong "f------ b------," leaving Konta in tears and the match temporarily suspended.

At the press conference for Saturday's tie, the 70-year-old spoke on Williams' recent pregnancy announcement. Her fiance, Alexis Ohanian, is white, and Nastase remarked: "Let's see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?"

Earlier Saturday, Press Association journalist Eleanor Crooks was said to have been verbally abused by Nastase for reporting on his Williams remarks.

"He repeatedly called me stupid, asked me why what he said was racist," Crooks said, according to The Telegraph. "I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about color. He said the English were out to get him and called me stupid a few more times."

Nastase has spoken disparagingly of Williams in the past, making unsubstantiated doping accusations to Romanian media with comments including: "Don't you see how she looks like?"

Konta won the playoff match, 6-2, 6-3.