The Davis Cup final is set to happen on Sunday, pitting Spain against Italy for the coveted title. However, the competition faced controversy earlier in the year when Zizou Bergs and Cristian Garin had an on-court altercation during the tournament’s first qualifying round in February.

The incident occurred between Belgium and Chile when Bergs inadvertently knocked Garin down while celebrating a break of serve. Garin then refused to continue the match despite being examined by a doctor, resulting in penalties and Belgium being declared the winner.

Garin criticized the decision to continue the match, especially as it seemed to be favoring Belgium. The clash between Bergs and Garin happened when Bergs, in a moment of celebration, collided with Garin as he made his way around the net post after a break in the third set.

Despite being cleared to continue playing by a doctor, Garin chose not to, leading to penalties against him and ultimately giving Belgium a 3-1 victory. An ITF statement defended the decision, emphasizing that all parties involved followed the necessary protocols.

Following the incident, Garin posted a photo on Instagram showing what appeared to be a black eye and expressed disappointment with the ITF’s handling of the situation. He highlighted concerns about his health and the umpire’s decision to push for the match’s continuation.

Bergs received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct, with umpire Carlos Ramos labeling the incident as an “unfortunate accident.” Bergs expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing that his actions were unintentional and offering apologies to Garin and his team.

The unexpected turn of events marked a disappointing end to the match, with both players expressing regret and frustration over the outcome.