Protests outdoors, silence inside as Canada goes up 2-0 on Israel at Davis Cup tie

[ad_1] It was a surreal scene in Halifax on Friday as Canada kicked off its Davis Cup tennis tie towards Israel behind closed doorways at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.

Save for athletes and employees of the 2 groups and the required officers, who had been both on the courtroom or courtside, the venue that usually holds over 10,500 spectators was fully empty.

The squeak of tennis footwear, the hand slaps between teammates and different sounds usually masked by ambient chatter had been heard clear as day on the CBC's dwell stream, which had no commentary.

Tennis Canada made the decision earlier this week to carry the matches with out spectators or media current, citing security issues it stated had been flagged by native authorities and safety businesses.

In the meantime, about 400 protesters gathered for a quick rally beside Citadel Hill Nationwide Historic website, the place organizer Em Bailey stated nearly 1,000 individuals had signed a petition opposing Israel's participation within the video games.

"We stand firmly demanding that the Davis Cup video games between Staff Canada and Staff Israel be cancelled," stated Bailey, a member of Palestine Solidarity Halifax. "And that group Israel is suspended from the Davis Cup. We refuse to just accept anti-Palestinian racism."

The protesters then marched peacefully by way of the port metropolis's downtown and stopped in entrance of Scotiabank Centre.

WATCH | Diallo wins Canada's opening match:

Diallo will get Canada a Davis Cup opening match group stage victory over Israel

Montreal's Gabriel Diallo defeated Daniel Cukierman of Israel 6-1, 6-2 to open up Davis Cup group stage motion between the 2 nations to an empty stadium in Halifax Friday. Beneath vivid sunshine, most of the demonstrators had been carrying placards and Palestinian flags whereas chanting slogans and beating drums amid snarled site visitors and law enforcement officials on bicycles.

One man wrapped in a Palestinian flag waved a tennis racket that held a chunk of paper with "No Sportswashing Israel" written on it.

And on the entrance of the lengthy line of marchers, a number of protesters held a big banner with the message "Do not Play Ball" written in large letters.

The protest wrapped up with speeches outdoors close by Halifax Metropolis Corridor. Extra protests had been deliberate for Saturday.

Whereas there was loads of exercise outdoors, one may hear a pin drop inside Scotiabank Centre as Montreal's Gabriel Diallo opened the tie with a 6-1, 6-2 dismantling of Israel's Daniel Cukierman.

When the six-foot-eight Diallo jumped up and smashed a forehand winner to take a 4-2 second-set lead, a shot that usually would have lifted followers out of their seats was met with a smattering of well mannered applause.

The environment stood in stark distinction to the latest U.S. Open in New York, the place the Canadian gamers loved strong assist from a partisan crowd.

Nonetheless, Diallo stated in a press convention Thursday that he would be capable of modify to the circumstances, and on Friday, he simply did that. He wanted simply 28 minutes to take the primary set, and after Cukierman was extra aggressive to start out the second earlier than taking a medical timeout, Diallo gained 4 straight video games to take the opening match and provides Canada a 1-0 lead.

Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., put Canada up 2-0 when he beat Orel Kimhi 7-6 (5), 6-4 to win his first Davis Cup singles match.

WATCH | Canada sweeps 1st day of Davis Cup tie as Draxl defeats Israel's Kimhi: Canada sweeps 1st day of Davis Cup tie as Draxl defeats Israel's Kimhi

Liam Draxl from Newmarket, Ont., defeats Israel's Orel Kimhi 7-6 (5), 6-4 to provide Canada a 2-0 lead of their ITF Davis Cup World Group I tie which is being held behind closed doorways at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. Three matches are set for Saturday within the best-of-five tie, with Draxl and Calgary's Cleeve Harper dealing with Jordan Hasson and Ofek Shimanov in a doubles match earlier than Diallo faces Kimhi and Draxl takes on Cuikerman.