Tennis Canada bans spectators from Israel Davis Cup tie over 'safety concerns'
NewsWednesday, 10 September 2025 at 15:15
Canada will play against Israel in their upcoming World Group 1 tie at the Davis Cup, but tennis hasn't been the main story surrounding this tie.
Canada and Israel both played in the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers. As the 2022 champions and the third seeds, Canada were favorites against Hungary, but without Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov in the team, it was difficult for the country to get past Hungary.
Alexis Galarneau and Gabriel Diallo lost their first singles matches, and even a doubles win by Liam Draxl and Vasek Pospisil and Diallo's singles win against Fabian Marozsan were not enough to complete a comeback as Galarneau lost to Marton Fucsovics.
Had Canada won that tie, they might have avoided some troubles concerning their upcoming tie against Israel. They, too, played in the Qualifiers, losing 1-3 to Germany after losing the first three matches and recording the only win in a dead rubber match.
With both Canada and Israel losing their Qualifiers ties, they will now have to fight for their spot in the elite category. That tie will take place at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Canada, on September 12th and 13th.
Canada are huge favorites to win the tie even without Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov, who won't compete this time either. ATP world No. 35 Gabriel Diallo will lead the team, with Liam Draxl, Alexis Galarneau, and Cleeve Harper joining him. Israel, on the other hand, doesn't have any player ranked inside the Top 750 in singles.
Because of Israel's ongoing military conflict, some fans in Halifax wanted to stage a protest during the tie. Tennis Canada closely observed those initiatives and ultimately decided to ban fans from attending the tie.
They posted an update, stating that, due to the safety of everyone involved, including the ball kids, they will not allow any fans at the venue. The decision was discussed with the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
"The Davis Cup World Group I tie between Team Canada and Israel in Halifax, NS will be played in a closed venue format, without fans in attendance, it was confirmed on Tuesday. This decision was not taken lightly and was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation (ITF)."
"Tennis Canada acted in light of escalating safety concerns. Intelligence received from local authorities and national security agencies, combined with disruptions witnessed at other recent events both in Canada and internationally, indicated a risk of significant disruption to this event. Ensuring the safety of everyone involved, including athletes, fans, staff, volunteers, and minors, such as ball kids, remains our top priority."
Gavin Ziv, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Tennis Canada, commented on the decision, saying that it was taken so the tie could be played without any safety concerns.
"At the heart of this difficult decision is our responsibility to protect people while ensuring that this Davis Cup tie can still take place. We were forced to conclude that playing behind closed doors was the only way to both safeguard those involved and preserve the event itself. While this outcome is very disappointing, it allows the tie to proceed in Halifax and ensures that our athletes can continue to compete at the highest international level."
"We are looking forward to returning to Halifax with Team Canada in the coming years to ensure we can fulfill our mission of promoting tennis and creating opportunities for fans and players to engage with the sport in Nova Scotia and across the country."
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