The 70-year-old, who won the men’s singles titles at the 1972 US Open and 1973 French Open, was overheard talking about the African American tennis star’s pregnancy during a press conference yesterday before his country’s match with Britain.

In relation to the baby, fathered by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who is white, Nastase is reported to have said: “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk.”

He was then removed from the Tenis Club IDU in Constanta today halfway through the rubber between Sorana Cirstea and  Konta after allegedly swearing at the match umpire and then to the Britain's number one player and their team captain Keothavong.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have confirmed they have opened an investigation into the comments yesterday and the incident during the tie today.

"Mr Nastase was asked to leave the court by ITF referee Andreas Egli for unsportsmanlike conduct, having received two official warnings," an ITF statement said.

"Mr Nastase was also removed from the grounds due to his serious misconduct.

"His accreditation was removed and he will play no further part in this tie.

"The ITF has launched an investigation into this matter as well as previous comments made by Mr Nastase during the week."

Seems Nastase's job could be on the line. He's just come into the press room and repeatedly called me stupid

— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) April 22, 2017

After the quotes from yesterday's press conference were published, Nastase is said to have “stormed” into the media room at the Tenis Club IDU in Constanta, where the World Group II tie is being played, seeking out British journalists.

The Press Association’s tennis correspondent Eleanor Crooks was the only journalist from the country present and was subjected to a tirade from the Romanian.

“Why did you write that? You’re stupid, you’re stupid,” is what Nastase is reported as saying towards Crooks.

“He repeatedly called me stupid, asked me why what he said was racist,” Crooks said in a Press Association report.

“I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about colour.

“He said the English were out to get him and called me stupid a few more times.

“Fortunately, he was across the other side of the room from me and there were other journalists around so it was unpleasant rather than threatening.

“But it is certainly not the behaviour you would expect of someone in his position and wholly unnecessary, especially given he did not dispute the accuracy of what was reported.”

Crooks also tweeted about the incident, saying it seemed Nastase's was "on the line".

Nastase is also reported to have made remarks to Britain’s captain Anne Keothavong, who is currently pregnant for the second time, over the last couple of days, asking her for her hotel room number and saying: “We keep being attracted.”

The controversy surrounding Nastase did not end there as he was sent out of the stands during the second rubber between Cirstea and Konta before the match was temporarily suspended.

Romania's captain was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct as the atmosphere in Constanta heated up after Konta, the world number seven, had won the first set 6-2 and was 2-1 down in the second.

It has been reported that he said to the umpire "what's your f****** problem" and then described Konta and Keothavong as "f****** bitches".

Moments later, Nastase was sent out of the stadium entirely by Egli and had to be escorted by security guards back to the locker rooms.

As the atmosphere became more heated in the crowd, Cirstea won the next game, but the rubber was then suspended temporarily as Konta broke into tears, reportedly due to something said towards her by a spectator.

Proceedings resumed 25 minutes later after world number five Simona Halep, who had won the day's first rubber against Heather Watson 6-4, 6-1, had spoken to the crowd, telling them to calm down.

Konta went onto win five consecutive games to win the rubber 6-2, 6-3.