"If Novak did this, he would be defaulted for life" – Basilashvili reacts to Davis Cup controversy

The Davis Cup qualifier between Belgium and Chile ended in controversy, dividing fans and sparking debate across the tennis community. The match between Zizou Bergs and Cristian Garín took an unexpected turn when the two collided mid-match, leaving Garín unable to continue.

The incident has drawn strong reactions, with former top 20 player Nikoloz Basilashvili questioning the fairness of the decision and how similar situations have been handled in the past.

The incident

The match was a fierce battle, with both players leaving everything on the court. In the third set, tied at 5-5, Bergs hit a magnificent shot to break Garín's serve, a crucial moment in the contest. Overcome with emotion, the Belgian sprinted to his bench in celebration, but accidentally collided with Garín.

The Chilean fell to the ground and required medical attention for injuries to his face and shoulder. The Chilean team immediately requested Bergs' disqualification, but instead, he was given only an unsportsmanlike violation.

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Unable to continue, Garín received three consecutive time violations, followed by another penalty, which led to Bergs being awarded the victory.

Following the incident, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) released a statement explaining their decision:

"This was a rare, unfortunate and very delicate situation and 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."

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Garín later took to social media, expressing his frustration:

"I still can't believe we got DISQUALIFIED," said Garín. "That the umpire forced me to play with dizziness and unable to see well after 2h40 minutes playing at high intensity.

"Years of loving this sport, watching millions of matches, and I never seen, nor thought about living something like this.

"So sad after all the week's effort and all the teamwork. Thanks to the ITF for ZERO CONCERN FOR MY HEALTH. Thanks to all 🇨🇱. Hard moment, but we keep going."

Comparisons to Djokovic’s 2020 disqualification

 Novak Djokovic

The situation has drawn comparisons to the 2020 US Open, when Novak Djokovic was disqualified after accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball.

Basilashvili took to social media, questioning the double standards in officiating:

"If Novak did this, he would be defaulted for life. WTF."

Many commentators and fans have also pointed out inconsistencies in how rules are enforced. Some argue that Djokovic’s incident resulted in an immediate disqualification, while Bergs received only a warning despite an actual collision with an opponent.

Djokovic publicly apologised after the 2020 incident:

"This whole situation has left me sad and empty," said Djokovic.

"I checked on the lines person, and the tournament told me to thank God she feels okay.

"I'm extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I'm not disclosing her name to respect her privacy.

"As for the disqualification, I need to go back within, work on my disappointment, and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being.

"I apologise to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour. I'm very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you, and I'm so sorry."

A debate over rule consistency

The Davis Cup controversy raises questions about consistency in officiating and whether certain players or situations are judged differently.

While the Bergs-Garín incident may have been accidental, the reaction from the ITF and the lack of a disqualification have led to debate within the tennis world.

As discussions around fairness and rule enforcement continue, this incident may prompt further review of how similar cases are handled in the future.

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