Belgium have booked their place in the second round of Davis Cup qualifying, but their victory over Chile has been overshadowed by huge controversy.
Arthur Fils was grateful to help France beat Brazil in Davis Cup qualifying, in another match that was filled with controversial moments.
But they have fallen short of the incident between Belgium’s Zizou Bergs and Chile’s Cristian Garin, which the former won 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
A celebrating Bergs collided with Garin at the net during a changeover, with the Chilean falling to the floor.
The Belgian apologised immediately, with Garin then cleared to play again after receiving medical attention.
Chilean Tennis Federation slam Davis Cup ‘injustice’ involving Cristian Garin
Chile, however, called for Bergs to be disqualified, but their player was handed three time violations for refusing to play.
That led to a game penalty that handed Berg the victory, with Belgium winning the overall tie 3-1 in Hasselt.
The Chilean Tennis Federation has now released an official statement on the matter, which reads: “The Chilean Tennis Federation expresses its deep consternation and rejection of the events that occurred during the Davis Cup series played against Belgium this Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Hasselt, valid for the first round of the World Group Qualifiers.
“In that instance, our player Cristian Garin was attacked by Zizou Bergs and, in an incomprehensible and unacceptable way, ended up being disqualified, which meant the defeat of our country by 3-1.
“After being hit by the Belgian player, Cristian did not receive due attention from the neutral doctor appointed by the organisation.
“Despite this situation, the general referee, Mr. Carlos Ramos, from Portugal, validated the continuity of the match and urged our player to return to the match. However, as he was unable to do so due to dizziness and inflammation in his eye, he was disqualified.
“Due to this injustice, we announce that we will initiate all relevant actions before the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to seek justice and defend the interests of our athletes and Chilean tennis.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the values of sport, such as integrity, respect and fairness. It is essential that these principles prevail in all competitions to guarantee a safe and fair environment for all tennis players.
“We appreciate the unconditional support of the Chilean fans present in Hasselt, as well as those who followed the match from our country and other parts of the world, for accompanying us in these difficult times.
“We also greatly appreciate the numerous displays of solidarity expressed by the international tennis community in the face of this injustice.
“Finally, we call on international sports authorities to review this case with the seriousness and objectivity it deserves, ensuring that situations like this are not repeated in the future, for the sake of a competition with as much history and prestige as the Davis Cup.”
ITF reacts to ‘rare’ Davis Cup incident between Belgium and Chile
ITF referee Ramos said it was a ‘very unfortunate accident’, although Bergs was given a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
But the Belgian still managed to come away with the win, with his nation now facing Australia in the second round.
The full extent of the fallout remains to be seen, but Chile have understandably been left disappointed with the tie.
The ITF looks certain to have plenty of business to conduct with the Chilean Tennis Federation in the days to come, but the former was clear in its stance in the immediate aftermath of the controversy.
“This was a rare, unfortunate and very delicate situation and everyone involved, including the independent doctor, conducted due diligence based on rules and procedures,” said an ITF spokesperson, as quoted by the Davis Cup website.
“We understand the emotions attached to this unusual incident, but the final decision was made after consideration of all the facts and unique circumstances around it.”
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