Belgium secured advancement to the second round of Davis Cup qualifying under unusual circumstances on Sunday, after an incident involving Chilean player Cristian Garin led him to withdraw from a match.
During the match, Belgian player Zizou Bergs celebrated after winning a game in the third set, which brought him closer to victory. In doing so, he ran towards his bench at the same moment Garin was moving towards the narrow space between the net and the umpire’s chair. Unfortunately, the players collided, with Bergs inadvertently striking Garin in the eye with his shoulder.
Bergs promptly expressed his apology, while Garin required medical attention following the incident. The International Tennis Federation later issued a statement describing the event as “an accidental collision at the change of ends” and confirmed that an independent medical assessment deemed Garin fit to continue playing.
Despite this ruling, Garin chose not to resume the match and sought Bergs’ disqualification. This series of events led to Garin receiving three consecutive time violations, culminating in a game penalty that resulted in him losing both the set and the match. Ultimately, Bergs emerged victorious with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, allowing Belgium to advance with a 3-1 match result. They are scheduled to face Australia in the next round in September.
The ITF remarked on the rare nature of the incident, emphasizing that all participants, including the independent medical professional, acted in accordance with established rules and protocols. They acknowledged the complexities surrounding the situation, stating that the final determination was made after thoroughly evaluating the facts and circumstances involved.
In response to the incident, Chile’s Olympic Committee expressed their dismay on social media platform X, expressing feelings of “upset and incredulous” regarding what transpired. They pledged to support the Chilean tennis federation in addressing this incident, labeling it a “shameful international occurrence” that warranted further action.
