“The umpire came to force me to play”: Christian Garin speaks out on Davis Cup disqualification as Captain Massu calls for “tremendous injustice”

Monday, 03 February 2025 at 01:00

Christian Garin shared his thoughts on his disqualification in the Davis Cup after a collision with Zizou Bergs during their match. The Chilean received support from his captain, Nicolás Massú, and his former coach, Andrés Schneiter, who made strong accusations regarding the situation.

The former world No. 17 lost his serve in the 11th game of the third set, putting Bergs in a position to close out the match with his serve. During the changeover, Bergs’ exuberant celebration as he ran led to a collision with Garin, who later reported physical issues following a blow to the head and refused to continue playing.

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“The umpire came to force me to play, so I didn’t understand the situation, I was hit in the head, I felt bad… I would have loved to finish the match differently, but I don’t understand why they kept forcing me to play,” Garin commented at the press conference. “I had a concussion, I was dizzy, I couldn’t see well, honestly, I don’t understand this situation.”

“I have no words to define what happened, I’ve been in tennis for many years and I’ve never seen anything like this. I feel bad and I’m really sad,” added the 28-year-old player.

In the same press conference, Chile’s captain and former world No. 9 Nicolás Massú harshly criticized the ITF, calling the situation a 'tremendous injustice'. “Stop messing around!” Massú exclaimed. “Here, the umpires are one thing, and the players are another. But what I think went wrong is that they didn’t check Cristian. How is it possible that the neutral doctor didn’t see him? Or didn’t take him out of there? There was zero analysis,” he stated.

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“We played against Peru in Chile last year and they made us play in front of four thousand people. We had to set up a court in advance because we had to improve this. Here, we played in a stadium for two thousand people and they were given permission,” he explained. “This is a clear example of a tremendous injustice,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Garin’s former coach, Andrés Schneiter, shared his thoughts with Chilean site Septimo Game, speaking strongly about the different treatment given to South American teams compared to European ones. “Whenever there’s a problem between a South American and a European team, it seems like the Europeans always have the right, always over the South Americans. In the end, they’re always the ones cheating.”

La palabra de Cristian Garin y Nicolás Massú tras el escándalo en Hasselt luego de la agresión de Zizou Bergs: pic.twitter.com/0FCC8CRdUN
— Séptimo Game (@Septimo_Game) February 2, 2025

Zizou Bergs makes a HUGE shot to break serve... but accidently collides with Cristian Garin in celebration 😮 pic.twitter.com/6H2RqRmx4m
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 2, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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