Canada wins Davis Cup tie against Israel in empty Halifax arena amid protests

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Sep 13, 2025 3:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 14

Canada precocious to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers with a 4-0 triumph implicit Israel successful a best-of-five necktie played successful an bare Halifax arena amid protests.

Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., and Cleeve Harper of Calgary came backmost from a acceptable down to decision Jordan Hasson and Ofek Shimanov 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 successful Saturday's archetypal match.

Singles wins by Draxl and Montreal's Gabriel Diallo connected Friday meant the doubles triumph sealed Canada's advancement retired of the World Group 1 signifier and into adjacent year's qualifiers for the main Davis Cup tournament.

With triumph assured, Canada elected to regenerate satellite No. 35 Diallo with Harper for a singles lucifer with Orel Kimhi. Harper, playing successful his archetypal Davis Cup tie, completed the Canadian expanse with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win.

Draxl was scheduled to headdress the necktie with a lucifer against Daniel Cukierman if necessary, but the lucifer was not played.

WATCH l Canada wins necktie implicit Israel: 

Tennis Canada made the telephone earlier this week to clasp the matches astatine Scotiabank Centre without spectators oregon media present, citing information concerns it said were flagged by section authorities and nationalist information agencies.

A spokesperson for Tennis Canada said that Halifax Regional Police, the RCMP and CSIS, Canada's nationalist quality service, are those section and nationalist agencies.

But each 3 told CBC News via email that they were not consulted.

The streets surrounding the Halifax Common parkland were closed for astir an hr Saturday arsenic a fewer 100 protesters chanted, sang and waved signs opposing Israel's actions successful Gaza and the West Bank.

People holding a banner made from a tennis nett that work "Don't play ball" led the demonstration.

Some signs denounced Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore for allowing the lawsuit to instrumentality place. Friday's matches were besides protested.

About 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, had antecedently urged Tennis Canada to cancel the games.

Earlier this week, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was disappointed the lawsuit had to beryllium closed to fans. It referred to the protesters arsenic extremists who silenced "thousands of fans ... who simply wanted to amusement pridefulness successful their country."

The world's starring authorization connected nutrient crises declared famine successful Gaza City successful August, aft months of warnings by assistance groups that Israel's restrictions of nutrient and different assistance into Gaza were causing starvation among Palestinian civilians.

Earlier this month, the largest nonrecreational enactment of scholars studying genocide said Israel is committing genocide successful Gaza.