27 April,2017 09:51 AM IST | | AFP
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman blasted tennis great Ilie Nastase yesterday, saying his racial slur against Serena Williams was indefensible
Tim Henman, Ilie Nastase
Tim Henman
Hong Kong: Former British No. 1 Tim Henman blasted tennis great Ilie Nastase yesterday, saying his racial slur against Serena Williams was "indefensible".
The 70-year-old Romanian Fed Cup captain has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation over his controversial comments about Williams' unborn baby, as well as abusive behaviour during a tie between Romania and Britain.
"I think it's indefensible really... but there's an investigation going on and I guess we'll just have to see what happens there," said the former world number four.
Ilie Nastase
Nastase was overheard by a journalist on Friday commenting on Williams' unborn child - who will be of mixed race as her fiance is white - saying: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?" A day later the former world number one and two-time Grand Slam-winner found himself in hot water once again after swearing at the umpire, British captain Anne Keothavong and British number one player Johanna Konta during a Fed Cup match - calling the latter two "fucking bitches." He also reportedly propositioned Keothavong, who is married and pregnant.
Speaking at an event to launch grassroots tennis programme The Road to Wimbledon on a fittingly wet day in Hong Kong, Henman told AFP it had been a 'pretty unfortunate episode for the Fed Cup."
"It's not something that you like to see going on in tennis. It's got no place in society."
