Serena Williams accuses Ilie Nastase of racially abusing her and unborn child

American tennis player Serena Williams has accused Ilie Nastase of racially abusing her and her unborn baby as she made her first response to comments the Romanian former world No1 made about her.

Nastase was overheard on Friday at a press conference for the Fed Cup tie between Romania and Britain saying about the current world No 1’s unborn baby: “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?”

Williams confirmed on Wednesday last week that she was 20 weeks pregnant with her first child after posting an image of her baby bump. Her fiance Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of the Reddit website, is white.

Nastase, 70, the Romanian team captain, had also asked his British counterpart Anne Keothavong for her room number.

He was also heard to call her and British No1 Johanna Konta“fucking bitches” in an outburst that led to his provisional suspension by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and expulsion from the competition being held in Constanța, Romania.

In a comment on Instagram, Williams wrote: “It disappoints me to know we live in a society in which people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and unborn child, and sexist comments against my peers.

“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.”

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