Chilean Tennis Federation announces “Disqualification” and vows legal action after controversial incident

Bergs Garin

The fallout from the controversial collision between Zizou Bergs and Cristian Garin during their Davis Cup match continues to escalate. Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, the Chilean Tennis Federation has released a statement claiming that Garin was “disqualified” from the match due to the incident. This assertion raises further questions about the official ruling and the interpretation of the rules surrounding player conduct.

The Federation’s statement didn’t elaborate on the specifics of the “disqualification,” leaving room for speculation about the grounds on which it was based. It’s unclear whether they believe Garin was at fault in any way, or if the disqualification stems from his inability to continue the match after the collision, regardless of fault. This ambiguity only fuels the ongoing debate and adds to the confusion surrounding the incident.

Beyond the claim of disqualification, the Chilean Tennis Federation’s statement made it clear that they intend to pursue the matter further. “We will do all the pertinent actions to seek justice and defend our interests,” the statement declared. This strongly suggests that the Federation is not satisfied with the current outcome and is prepared to explore all available avenues, potentially including legal action, to challenge the result and protect their player.

The Federation’s resolve indicates that this issue is far from resolved. Their pursuit of “justice” suggests they believe Garin was wronged in some way, either by the collision itself or the subsequent handling of the situation. The mention of “defending our interests” implies a broader concern, perhaps about the integrity of the competition or the treatment of their players.

This development significantly raises the stakes. The involvement of the Chilean Tennis Federation and their stated intention to pursue legal action transforms what initially appeared to be a controversial incident into a potentially protracted legal battle. The tennis world now awaits further clarification from the ITF and other involved parties, as well as the next steps taken by the Chilean Federation. This incident has clearly transcended the boundaries of a simple on-court collision and now threatens to become a major point of contention within the world of tennis.

 

This was the 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. 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 organization. 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.”

Zizou Bergs in 2025

Zizou Bergs

9 - 3win/loss

Hard
7-3
I Hard
2-0
25 year old
WWLLWWWWWW
2025 Highlights

Currently the world no.60 (career-high), Zizou played his last match on the 2nd of February when he overcame world no.133 Christian Garin 6-3 4-6 7-5 in the Rubber 4 of the Davis Cup (draw).

At present, during this year the Belgian owns a compiled 9-3 win-loss record. Zizou Bergs’s best achievement of the present year was reaching the final in Auckland.

Bergs
Davis Cup
Bergs's Record

Christian Garin in 2025

Christian Garin

0 - 0win/loss

36 year old

Currently ranked no. (career-high), Lili played her last match on the 1st of January 1970 when she beat Mubina Vahobova 6-2 6-1 in the qualifications in (draw).

This season Grebinuk has achieved a 0-0 record.

Grebinuk
Grebinuk's Record