Former world No. 1 Ilie Nastase criticized fellow Romanian Simona Halep for deciding not to play Fed Cup. Romania will play against Canada in Montreal next week in a World Group playoff tie. Halep said she needed to rest after playing extensively this year, recently winning Doha, Indian Wells and reaching the semifinals of Miami.
However, there were questions from Nastase, who almost always played Davis Cup, ending his career with 109 wins and 37 losses. Halep has 12 wins and six losses in Fed Cup. The world No. 3 is next scheduled to play Stuttgart in two weeks.
"Ask Halep why she doesn’t want to play for Romania. Why she goes to Stuttgart and not play at the Fed Cup," Nastase told Romanian reporters. "I went to the Davis Cup for my country, and she goes to Stuttgart…I find it reprehensible that she says she's tired, but she goes to Stuttgart. I would ask a question—what is important, the Fed Cup or Stuttgart?... You only play once or twice a year on the national team. Maybe she does not like team spirit. You do not get No. 1 if you play in Stuttgart. You reach No. 1 if you think about the Grand Slams."
Halep played for Romania in February's tie against Spain, where she split her singles matches. In 2014, she played the Europe/Africa tie as well as the World Group play-off tie against Serbia.
"When I can I always play in Fed Cup, to perform well. Last year I played in Fed Cup injured, taking a risk," she said in a statement. "I have always been available. This year, the calendar of tournaments made it impossible for me to participate in Fed Cup. If the tie were to be played somewhere close to Stuttgart, I would have played with my team with great pleasure. But after a long time spent in North America, to come back to Romania, leave for Canada and travel once again to be back to Germany, I would have been way too tired. Everyone is allowed to express their opinions, that is for sure, but I repeat myself—I play for Romania every day, not just when I compete in Fed Cup. I really hope the girls are going to manage to win even without me. I keep my fingers crossed for them."
The Romanians have nominated Irina-Camelia Begu, Alexandra Dulgheru, Andrea Mitu, and Raluca Olaru for the tie against Canada.