The Chile Tennis Federation has written a formal letter demanding that their Davis Cup tie against Belgium be reversed in the aftermath of a bizarre situation.
After earning a crucial break to lead 6-5 in the third set of his clash against Chile's Cristian Garín, Belgium's Zizou Bergs accidentally bumped his opponent to the ground when he raced to the bench and celebrated with the home crowd.
It left Garín with a swollen left eye and required medical attention, with the Chilean team pleading with chair umpire Carlos Ramos to default Bergs.
Instead, Bergs only received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Garín suffered a game penalty due to delaying the match three times after he refused to continue.
The decision handed the European outfit the match and, consequently, the tie, defeating Chile 3-1 to advance to September's second-round of qualifying.
However, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is now under intense pressure from the Chile Tennis Federation, who have since released a damning statement.
"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," it read.
"In that instance, our player Cristian Garín 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."
They added, "Given the gravity of this situation, we formally request the following corrective measures:
Immediate reversal of the match result, awarding the victory to Mr. Garín due to the improper application of the rules and the clear physical interference by Mr. Bergs.
Rescheduling of the decisive fifth match at a later date under conditions that ensure fairness for both teams.
Compensatory measures for Chile, such as an automatic wildcard entry into the Davis Cup Finals, in recognition of the disadvantage suffered due to the ITF's failure to enforce the rules.
Belgium also released a public statement on the matter, supporting their player in the process.
"Zizou immediately apologised on the court and checked on Garín's condition. He is a true team player with an impeccable reputation for fair play," part of the statement read.
"As the Belgian tennis federation, our primary concern is Garín's well-being, and we hope he is doing well. Additionally, one day after these emotionally charged events, we call for calmness and objectivity. Based on this, we express our full support for Zizou and the Belgian team."
The potential for a fifth rubber to decide who advances would have implications for Lleyton Hewitt's Australia, who are due to face Belgium in a home tie after the US Open.
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