SANTIAGO, Chile – Zizou Bergs did not assault Cristián Garin. He hit him, but he did not assault him, despite what is being said in Chile.
“Our player Cristián Garin was assaulted by Zizou Bergs in an incomprehensible and unacceptable manner,” stated the Chilean Tennis Federation in a press release.
“Garin was assaulted by Bergs during the changeover…,” communicated the Chilean Olympic Committee.
After Belgian tennis player Zizou Bergs hit Chilean Cristián Garin, countless news articles and local journalists followed the same narrative: “Bergs, the aggressor.”
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The verb “assault” implies intent. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is “to make a violent hostile attack by physical means upon a person”. That is not what happened during the Davis Cup tie in Belgium.
The Belgian celebrated in an overly euphoric and uncontrolled manner, failing to manage his own body. His clumsiness injured his opponent, further diminishing Garin’s chances of staying in the match after he had just lost his serve to trail 6-5 in the third set.
“I was at a disadvantage, I couldn’t see, I was dizzy. My eye was twitching,” explained Garin on Radio Pauta, in his first interview after the controversy.
By the way, neither Garin nor Chilean captain Nicolás Massú spoke of ‘aggression’ in the post-match press conference. Neither did Nicolás Jarry, who was ready to come out to play the fifth point in case it would have been necessary.
Novak Djokovic did not assault the line judge at the 2020 US Open when he hit her in the throat with a ball, resulting in his disqualification.
Nor did Denis Shapovalov assault the umpire Arnaud Gabas when he hit him right in the eye with a ball during the 2017 Davis Cup rubber between Canada and Great Britain, after angrily trying to send the ball somewhere in frustration.
Even less so Miyu Kato at the 2023 French Open, with that slow-moving ball that ended up hitting a ball girl in the stomach.
“Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator, or other person within the precincts of the tournament site. For purposes of this rule, physical abuse is the unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, spectator, or other person,” the rulebook states.
Bergs’ actions warranted disqualification, and the rules of tennis, a non-contact sport, are clear on this. The fact that the Portuguese umpire, Carlos Ramos, made a mistake and spared both him and Belgium in the Davis Cup is another matter.
But Bergs did not assault Garin, despite what is believed in Chile.
