However, the situation took an unexpected twist when Bergs broke Garin’s serve to gain a 6-5 lead. In his excitement, Bergs unleashed a celebratory run, fist pumping and raising his arm triumphantly. Unfortunately, he was so caught up in his celebration that he collided with Garin as they both crossed paths near the net. The impact caused Garin to fall, immediately clutching his head in apparent discomfort.
Medical attention was quickly summoned for Garin, who was examined by a doctor and cleared to continue. However, despite being given the all-clear, Garin did not return to the court. Instead, Chile faced a series of penalties, including three consecutive time violations, which eventually led to a game penalty being imposed on them. With the penalty, Bergs secured the game, and Belgium claimed a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory in the match, sealing a 3-1 triumph in the Davis Cup tie.
Chile immediately protested the decision, but the International Tennis Federation (ITF) upheld the outcome. In a statement, the ITF defended its ruling, calling the incident “rare, unfortunate, and delicate,” and assuring that all protocols had been followed. “Everyone involved, including the independent doctor, conducted due diligence based on rules and procedures. 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,” the statement read.
While the ITF stood by its decision, the controversy sparked strong reactions, particularly on social media. Former world No. 16 Nikoloz Basilashvili chimed in, suggesting that if Novak Djokovic had been involved in a similar incident, the consequences would have been far more severe. “If Novak had done this, he would have been disqualified for life. WTF,” Basilashvili wrote in an Instagram Story, referencing the 2021 US Open incident where Djokovic was disqualified after accidentally hitting a linesperson with a ball.
The Chilean camp also voiced their concerns over Garin’s condition following the collision. Team doctor Alejandro Orizola stated that Garin had suffered a significant blow to the eye, causing him to fall and hit his head. “This led to swelling, vision difficulties, nausea, and a severe headache, though he never lost consciousness. Cristian Garin was in no condition to continue playing,” Orizola explained.
In response to the events, the Chile Tennis Federation expressed its outrage, condemning the actions on the court and the handling of the situation. The federation issued a statement, calling the collision an “attack” on Garin and criticizing the lack of adequate attention from the appointed neutral doctor. They also questioned the decision by the match referee, Carlos Ramos, to allow the match to continue despite Garin’s condition. The statement further revealed that the federation plans to pursue the matter with the ITF in an effort to seek justice for Garin and defend the interests of Chilean tennis.
“After being hit by the Belgian player, Cristian did not receive due attention from the neutral doctor appointed by the organization,” the statement read. “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.”
The incident has sparked an intense debate, with passionate arguments on both sides. As the controversy unfolds, the eyes of the tennis world remain on the ITF’s response and any potential consequences for the future handling of such situations in high-stakes matches.