Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Fed Cup 2017 World Group II Play-Off - Romania v Great Britain - 22-23 April

indiana · Tennis legend

Nastase's behaviour and the strange replacement with another 'captain' and whether Romania should have say forfeited at least the rubber at that stage is one discussion area.

Maybe another is suspending a match because of a player getting too emotional to play on due to abuse. Of course it is out of order ( how bad clearly I don't know ) but I am sure other players would relate similarly as Cirstea afterwards and Halep during it that they've had to play on through abuse in many parts of the world. Though as was said to Halep by the umpire ( or referree? ) a player shouldn't have to suffer that but report it. It seems a bit of a precedent though to suspend a match.

Every sympathy with Jo, but it was a highly unusual step. Or maybe the umpire was taking into account too whatever she'd had volleyed at her from Nastase.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 22nd of April 2017 05:47:10 PM

Miriambee · Futures level

ITF have released a statement, saying there will be an investigation by their adjudicating body and saying nobody should have to put up with that abuse. He had 2 warnings for unsportsmanlike conduct and was told to leave the bench, then a 3rd incident, presumably while being told, so it was upped to serious misconduct and he will play no further part in the tie.

The BT sport commentators were adamant that GB should have the match with no further play.

Simona had to warn the crowd they would be docked points or worse, for bad behaviour, and they were much more subdued after Jo came back.

But putting Monica in the manager seat really meant there was no immediate reward for GB, though on the tour rude players would be defaulted.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Nastase should be banned from every tournament on the tour, he has been an a$$hole for more than 40 years and it wasn't entertaining even when he was relevant. Glasspool needs to get off twitter and get on the practice court before he becomes more famous for his big mouth than his tennis.

Spectator · All-time great

Good for Ms Konta. At one level, I'm glad the match wasn't defaulted; it gave her the chance to respond to the abuse with her sheer excellence. Inspiring, after all that, to end with an earned victory - and well done to her for regrouping and doing so. At another level, it remains vaguely shocking that it wasn't defaulted: one would have thought that abuse of a player and captain by the opposing captain would lead to an immediate default.

I hope Ilie Nastase does not set foot on another Fed Cup court. And I cannot see how the ITF can claim that it promotes the best interests of players if it does not impose very serious sanctions.

-- Edited by Spectator on Saturday 22nd of April 2017 06:06:10 PM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

I also have some sympathy for Cirstea. She was just getting into the match when all the drama, none of it of her making, took place and put an abrupt halt on any rhythm or momentum that she was building up.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I have a bit of sympathy for Cirstea and see why she might be upset as she had just broken to go 3-1 up in the second set when the match was suspended and she never got going again when they resumed. However, it did seem like the right decision to suspend the match before anything worse happened and it was needed by that point to allow the crowd to calm down and get Nastase out of the arena. If Jo stopped the match herself then that was a very good professional decision. Even if other players have played on when the crowd has been abusing them in the past doesn't make it right. So while Cirstea was let down, it was by her own captain and not by Jo.

indiana · Tennis legend

To be honest I didn't see that Jo made any decision. She was clearly very upset and crying and not really in cool professional mode. And while maybe she pleaded for something to be done, I don't know, the decision was made for the players. More likely Anne may have said something to the umpire.

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

Unsure if anyone interested or not but I have attached a video of Nastase shouting at a British journalist...

This is how it went:

"Why are you filming me?"
"because it's my job"
"It's **** job", he then continued to say "You don't have a job, you're stupid"

( Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b0o_WD65Xc )

TMH · Futures qualifying

I think Cirstea's comments were a bit out of order, to be honest. Comes across as a very sore loser and a bit of an arsehole.

"I'm not happy, Johanna, speaking tennis wise, she was better than me today. My problem was, and I still do not understand, why the match was stopped at 2-1.

"I did not hear what Ilie said, I understand you take Ilie out, perfect. Then we play another game, I win it, and then suddenly you started crying and let's go off the court.

"I've played all over the world, they called me from gypsy to bitch to a***hole to idiot. They were doing like (mimes slitting throat) to me. I never cried and left the court, I stay there and I play.

"Afterwards I go to the umpire and I ask him what do I do? I stay on the court, I go out? He said, 'I don't know'. I went to the supervisor, I said, 'What do I do, how long is the break?' He said, 'I don't know'.

"We did not exist any more, it was only the (British) team. And then when she (Konta) comes back on court she says, 'I'm sorry', so she knew she exaggerated.

"You don't do this, you stay and play. And the public was okay. They didn't do anything. And now they say they feel threatened.

"Next time I'm in trouble I will cry, maybe I can go off the court. As Romanians we get double insulted because of our nation, but it's okay, we are tough. Tougher than (British) people apparently."

www.skysports.com/tennis/news/20876/10847515/great-britains-johanna-konta-accused-of-gamesmanship-by-romanias-sorana-cirstea

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

I'm attaching two very interesting videos to conclude todays events ( after match press conferences )

Jo and Anne speak out about todays events, a statement from chief executive of LTA is read out also - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQEMOf4bPp0

... I never saw this coming, Cirstea accuses Jo Konta of bad gamesmanship worth a watch ! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHFXhj_9GTc&spfreload=10

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

TMH, I was writing post when you uploaded similar video, sorry.

the addict · Tennis legend

tennischamp wrote:
Unsure if anyone interested or not but I have attached a video of Nastase shouting at a British journalist...

This is how it went:

"Why are you filming me?"
"because it's my job"
"It's **** job", he then continued to say "You don't have a job, you're stupid"

( Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b0o_WD65Xc )

I saw this posted on twitter by Eleanor soon after it happened. All part of the ongoing Nasty investigation. Guess who will be out of a job first

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Frankly instead of complaining about gamesmanship they should be thankful that the ITF is too spineless to take real action and is instead allowing this farce to continue. The tie should be over and Romania should be out of the competition right now, Nastase behaved like an animal and the crowd were way out of order and the comments Cirstea made make me fearful for the way the crowd will behave tomorrow. If there is any further trouble or if god forbid anything happens to a member of the British team, the ITF are going to be exposed for the pathetic clown show they truly are.

TMH · Futures qualifying

tennischamp wrote:
TMH, I was writing post when you uploaded similar video, sorry.

No video in my post, just an article about it and some quotes - the videos are very much appreciated!