Serena Williams attacks Ilie Nastase over comments
Serena Williams has responded to Ilie Nastase's racist comments. Photo: Getty
Serena Williams has slammed former tennis star Ilie Nastase in an emotional post on her Instagram page.
The American tennis great, who last week announced she was pregnant, was responding to comments made by Nastase before a Fed Cup tie between Romania and Great Britain at the weekend.
At a press conference, Nastase – who is Romania’s Fed Cup captain and a former world No.1 – was overheard speculating on the colour of Williams’ baby, reportedly saying: “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?”
The comments came before a drama-filled Fed Cup tie in which Nastase disgraced himself, calling British captain Anne Keothavong and star player Johanna Konta “f***** bitches” in a wild courtside rant that led to the 70-year-old being provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation [ITF].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EC6tYWb-Xk
“It disappoints me to know we live in a society in which people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and [my] unborn child, and sexist comments against my peers,” Williams said.
“I have said it once and I’ll say it again, this world has come so far but yet we have so much further to go.
“Yes, we have broken down so many barriers – however there are a plethora more to go.
“This or anything else will not stop me from pouring love, light and positivity into everything that I do. I will continue to take a lead and stand up for what’s right.”
The 35-year-old – a 23-time grand slam winner and still world No.1 –then quoted segments of American civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s poem, Still I Rise.
“I am not afraid unlike you. You see, I am no coward,” she added.
“Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom?
“You may shoot me with your words … you may try to kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air, I rise.”
Williams finished by giving her “full support” to the ITF in their investigation against Nastase.
Nastase unmoved by Williams race row
Nastase has refused to be drawn into apologising for his controversial comments about Serena Williams, saying he will be considered the “bad boy” if he says anything more.
When asked on Tuesday about Williams’ response, Nastase told reporters: “Anything I say, I am the bad boy.”
Nastase also questioned the legitimacy of writing about his initial comments ahead of the Fed Cup series against Britain.
“Why write a news story like this? Just to have a scandal? There are many more important things going on,” Nastase said.
‘My Dearest Baby’
Williams, who initially revealed her pregnancy on Snapchat, also took to Instagram to post a message to her unborn baby.
She is around 21 weeks pregnant, and will sit out the remainder of the 2017 tennis season.
Williams, who won the first grand slam of the year when she beat elder sister Venus in January’s Australian Open final, “looks forward to returning in 2018”, her publicist, Kelly Bush Novak, said last week.
Despite her age, Williams is tipped to come back to the tennis tour – and be a force.
Tennis coach and commentator Roger Rasheed told The New Daily last week: “Her ability to come back is unquestioned.
“She’ll enjoy the journey of motherhood, and a little piece of her will be thinking about making a return.
“She’s a diligent trainer and her attention to detail is there … she has so many weapons – if she is in good condition and she has the passion to play, it’s a matter of execution.”
Australia’s Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik also tipped Williams for a successful return to tennis.
“She’s such a great champion and I’m sure she’ll come back with a vengeance,” she told The New Daily.
“I have no doubt she still has a lot of tennis in her.”
