Ilie Nastase named Romania captain for Fed Cup

Bucharest, Oct 21 (IANS) The Romanian Tennis Federation (FRT) on Friday appointed Ilie Nastase as captain of the country's women's team playing in the Fed Cup.

The FRT said that this appointment is part of the plan to concentrate all the values of the Romanian tennis around this team, which has real opportunities to win the Fed Cup, reports Efe.

Considered as the best Romanian tennis player till date, the 70-year-old Nastase's first assignment will be Romania's game against Belgium here on February 11.

Alina Cercel has been retained as the team coach. The team comprises of World No.4 Simona Halep, Irina Begu, Monica Niculescu, Raluca Olaru and Andreea Mitu.

The Romanian captain was president of the FRT from 1997-2008 and was also captain of men's team that played in the Davis Cup in 1994.

Romania dropped this year from the first category of the Fed Cup after falling 2-3 against Czech Republic in February and 1-4 against Germany in April.

--IANS

tri/dg