Controversy erupts at Davis Cup as Chile star refuses to play after being ‘knocked out’ by opponent

Chilean tennis star Cristian Garin refused to play after a shocking incident with opponent Zizou Bergs during a Davis Cup clash. In a tense singles match in Belgium, Garin found himself knocked over when Bergs leapt into the air and struck Garin in the face. Garin faced three successive time violations for choosing not to play. Bergs immediately apologised whilst Garin received medical attention and was cleared to continue. A code violation was issued to Bergs for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Chile fervently called for his disqualification. With emotions running high, Garin faced three successive time violations for choosing not to play, leading to a game penalty that ultimately handed Bergs a narrow victory of 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 and secured the tie for Chile at 3-1. In a heated exchange with the umpire, Garin said: “You don’t know what it’s like to get hit in the face after playing two and a half hours in this damn match. I’m not going to play. “You don’t have the guts to disqualify him, but you’ll disqualify me? I’ve never experienced something like this before. I was knocked out; I fainted.” This tumultuous result left Chile eliminated from the tournament in an twist of fate. During a fiery press conference, Garin reiterated his assertion that he had lost consciousness and criticised the umpire for being ‘imprudent and insensitive’ in pressuring him to continue. “I lost consciousness for three seconds,” he explained, his voice tinged with frustration. “I fainted and didn’t fully grasp the situation. “I would have preferred to finish the match on my terms, but they forced me to play while I was confused and dizzy. “What transpired was incredibly imprudent and insensitive. I’m at a loss for words to describe it. View Tweet: https://t.co/E8vwloj7Ik Garin received medical attention and was cleared to continue. “I’ve cherished this sport since birth and have never seen anything quite like it. I feel devastated, and I deeply regret that the umpire insisted I play.” Garin took to Instagram to express his outrage post-match, writing, “So the player is injured and can’t continue to play, yet we act as if nothing is wrong. Wow, what a beautiful world and what a great mentality.” Tennis fans were left shocked at the indicent, with one writing on X, “The most blatant default ever witnessed and not called.” Another added, “The umpire made a terrible decision punishing Garin (and Chile) for an easily preventable error by Bergs. You simply don’t leap like that without ensuring the coast is clear.” An International Tennis Federation statement said, “This was a rare, unfortunate, and very delicate circumstance. Everyone involved, including the independent doctor, acted with due diligence per established rules and procedures. “We comprehend the emotions tied to this unusual incident, but the final decision was reached after careful consideration of all the unique facts and circumstances involved.” Garin posted this furious message on Instagram after the time violations cost him the match. Chile’s Olympic committee expressed their ‘upset and incredulity’, pledging support to the Chilean tennis federation to ensure that this shameful international incident did not go unpunished. Had Bergs been disqualified, as the Chileans had hoped, the tie would have come down to a decisive showdown featuring star player Nicolas Jarry against Belgian teenager Alexander Blockx. Instead, it is the Belgians who are set to travel to Australia in September, where Lleyton Hewitt’s team, fresh from a prior victory against Sweden, will finally host their first home tie in the ‘World Cup of men’s tennis’ in three years. The Australians, bolstered by world No. 8 Alex de Minaur, are now overwhelming favourites heading into the qualifying round against a team led by Bergs, the world No. 60, and 19-year-old rising star Blockx, ranked No. 146.

Feb 3, 2025 - 20:00

Controversy erupts at Davis Cup as Chile star refuses to play after being ‘knocked out’ by opponent

Chilean tennis star Cristian Garin refused to play after a shocking incident with opponent Zizou Bergs during a Davis Cup clash.

In a tense singles match in Belgium, Garin found himself knocked over when Bergs leapt into the air and struck Garin in the face.

Garin faced three successive time violations for choosing not to play.

Bergs immediately apologised whilst Garin received medical attention and was cleared to continue.

A code violation was issued to Bergs for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Chile fervently called for his disqualification.

With emotions running high, Garin faced three successive time violations for choosing not to play, leading to a game penalty that ultimately handed Bergs a narrow victory of 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 and secured the tie for Chile at 3-1.

In a heated exchange with the umpire, Garin said: “You don’t know what it’s like to get hit in the face after playing two and a half hours in this damn match. I’m not going to play.

“You don’t have the guts to disqualify him, but you’ll disqualify me? I’ve never experienced something like this before. I was knocked out; I fainted.”

This tumultuous result left Chile eliminated from the tournament in an twist of fate.

During a fiery press conference, Garin reiterated his assertion that he had lost consciousness and criticised the umpire for being ‘imprudent and insensitive’ in pressuring him to continue.

“I lost consciousness for three seconds,” he explained, his voice tinged with frustration. “I fainted and didn’t fully grasp the situation.

“I would have preferred to finish the match on my terms, but they forced me to play while I was confused and dizzy.

“What transpired was incredibly imprudent and insensitive. I’m at a loss for words to describe it.

View Tweet: https://t.co/E8vwloj7Ik

Garin received medical attention and was cleared to continue.

“I’ve cherished this sport since birth and have never seen anything quite like it. I feel devastated, and I deeply regret that the umpire insisted I play.”

Garin took to Instagram to express his outrage post-match, writing, “So the player is injured and can’t continue to play, yet we act as if nothing is wrong. Wow, what a beautiful world and what a great mentality.”

Tennis fans were left shocked at the indicent, with one writing on X, “The most blatant default ever witnessed and not called.”

Another added, “The umpire made a terrible decision punishing Garin (and Chile) for an easily preventable error by Bergs. You simply don’t leap like that without ensuring the coast is clear.”

An International Tennis Federation statement said, “This was a rare, unfortunate, and very delicate circumstance. Everyone involved, including the independent doctor, acted with due diligence per established rules and procedures.

“We comprehend the emotions tied to this unusual incident, but the final decision was reached after careful consideration of all the unique facts and circumstances involved.”

Garin posted this furious message on Instagram after the time violations cost him the match.

Chile’s Olympic committee expressed their ‘upset and incredulity’, pledging support to the Chilean tennis federation to ensure that this shameful international incident did not go unpunished.

Had Bergs been disqualified, as the Chileans had hoped, the tie would have come down to a decisive showdown featuring star player Nicolas Jarry against Belgian teenager Alexander Blockx.

Instead, it is the Belgians who are set to travel to Australia in September, where Lleyton Hewitt’s team, fresh from a prior victory against Sweden, will finally host their first home tie in the ‘World Cup of men’s tennis’ in three years.

The Australians, bolstered by world No. 8 Alex de Minaur, are now overwhelming favourites heading into the qualifying round against a team led by Bergs, the world No. 60, and 19-year-old rising star Blockx, ranked No. 146.