Tennis

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic blast Canada over controversial Davis Cup walkover


Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have slammed Canada for not playing the doubles against the USA at the Davis Cup finals.

The Canadians had already won the group stage match thanks to victories for

Vasek Pospisil over Reilly Opelka and Denis Shapovalov against Taylor Fritz. But they then claimed their players were not fit to play in the dead rubber doubles so the Americans were awarded the match 6-0 6-0.

The six group winners automatically qualify for the knockout stages but so do the two best runners-up and the walkover could affect the integrity of the new-look tournament.

Murray said: “I don’t think that’s good.

“I think that when we spoke in here yesterday, I was saying I felt like one of the positive things to the way the group stages work is that all of the matches are live, there isn’t any dead rubbers.

“So where Canada may have felt that that was a dead rubber in theory for them because they were already through, that could have implications to all of the teams potentially that might finish in second place.

“And, I believe they also would have had two days off as well after that so I think they should have played the tie.”

And world No.2 Djokovic added: “I heard that, actually, just recently.

“I personally don’t like that. I mean, that shouldn’t be allowed, to be honest. I understand that Canada is through already, they won both of their ties.

“Maybe some of the players like Felix, I think he’s injured, and they wanted to rest their players for the quarterfinals and onwards.

“But I just feel it’s not fair that the USA gets 6-0 6-0 because they are going actually head-to-head now against Italy.

“And then the winner is going to be second, but then that 6-0 6-0 might make a big difference in the calculations for the second-best teams in the group.

“So I don’t think that’s fair, to be honest.”

“But I also understand it wouldn’t be fair if you just don’t give a point, you know, because USA was ready to play doubles. So I don’t know.

“But I think everyone should be obliged to come out and play, at least play.”

An ITF statement said: “USA was given a walkover by Canada in the doubles match of their Davis Cup tie on Tuesday after three Canadian players were passed unfit to play by the independent doctor.

“According to the Davis Cup regulations, USA receives one match win and a 60 60 scoreline in terms of sets and games won.”



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