MADRID — Simona Halep thanked Ilie Nastase, the embattled Romanian Fed Cup coach, after successfully defending her Madrid Open title on Saturday, but Nastase’s role in the trophy presentation drew a swift rebuke from the WTA, which called his presence “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
Halep, who edged Kristina Mladenovic, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2, in a thrilling final that lasted nearly three hours, was congratulated on the court by Nastase as she received the trophy named for Ion Tiriac, Nastase’s former doubles partner and the owner of the Madrid Open.
Nastase is provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation after his comments about the skin color of the baby that Serena Williams is expecting, and for profanity-laced outbursts during a recent Fed Cup meeting between Romania and Britain.