Carlos Alcaraz’s opponent left rival with swollen eye after on-court altercation
Carlos Alcaraz’s next opponent – Zizou Bergs – once received a warning after leaving another player with a swollen eye on the court. World No.3 Alcaraz faces Bergs, ranked 39th in the world, in the round of 32 of the Shanghai Open on Monday. The 23-year-old Spaniard, who triumphed at the Japan Open Tennis Championships earlier this month, won his opening match in Shanghai in straight sets against Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Saturday and is likely to face a tougher test today. Bergs, 27, won his first ATP title in Eastbourne prior to Wimbledon earlier this year. But the Belgian’s career so far hasn’t been without controversy.
In February 2025, during the Davis Cup Qualifiers series between Belgium and Chile, Bergs left opponent Cristian Garin in pain after hitting him in the face with his shoulder. Bergs had broken Garin’s serve in the 11th game of the third set. Having gone 6-5 up, Bergs ran and jumped towards his bench in delight. However, as he passed the net post, he took an extra leap and struck Garin’s face with his shoulder.
The Chilean fell to the ground and had to receive on-court medical attention. “Cristian Garin suffered a strong blow to the eyeball, which caused him to fall and hit his head. This led to swelling, vision difficulties, nausea, and a severe headache, though he never lost consciousness. Cristian Garin was in no condition to continue playing,” said Chilean team doctor Alejandro Orizola after examining Garin in the locker room once the series was over.
Bergs apologised to Garin immediately after the incident, suggesting it was an accident. But the Chilean, sitting on his bench, protested to the umpire that he had lost focus due to Bergs’ action and that it was unfair to return to the court under such conditions, having played for two hours until that point.
Bergs was handed a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Garin and the Chilean team were not content. Despite Garin being cleared to play, Chile insisted the Belgian should be disqualified and Garin refused to continue playing.
Several of them, outraged, shouted at the Belgian bench, condemning Bergs’ unsportsmanlike conduct. Chile captain Nicolas Massu supported his player’s decision not to return to court, as Garin told the empire: “If you are not going to default him, default me! You don’t have the guts to do it to me.”
Nicolas Jarry, who was set to play the fifth match of the series if Garin had won, took a fan’s phone from the stands and showed the replay to the rest of the Chilean team.
Ultimately, Garin was given three successive time violations for refusing to play, resulting in a game penalty which handed Berg a 6-3 4-6 7-5 victory and ensured Belgium won the tie 3-1.
An International Tennis Federation statement read: “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.”
Chile’s Olympic committee said it was “upset and incredulous” with the situation, and that it would support the Chilean tennis federation “so that this shameful international incident does not go unpunished”.
