Nastase banned from Royal Box at Wimbledon
Ilie Nastase will be a notable absentee from Wimbledon's Royal Box in July.
There will be no place for Ilie Nastase in the Royal Box at Wimbledon this year following his Fed Cup antics last month, which came soon after controversial comments he made about Serena Williams' unborn baby.
Romania Fed Cup captain Nastase was provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation [ITF] after a foul-mouthed outburst during a play-off against Great Britain in Constanta.
The two-time Wimbledon champion was ejected from the stadium after allegedly abusing Johanna Konta and Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong, as well as aiming tirades at members of the media.
Nastase had already hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after reportedly saying when asked about world number one Williams' pregnancy: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?"
All England Lawn Tennis Club [AELTC] chairman Philip Brook on Wednesday confirmed that two-time grand slam champion Nastase will not take a seat in the Royal Box at SW19 in July.
Brook said: "What he did, I think we have to say his actions were not very good. We condemn them and in terms of an invitation into the Royal Box, he's not going to receive one this year."
AELTC chief executive Richard Lewis said Nastase will not even be allowed in the famous grounds of Wimbledon if the ITF does not lift his suspension before the tournament begins.
"We will wait for the outcome of the investigation," said Lewis. "But if he is suspended and we noticed him, he would be stopped [at the gates]."