The Moroccan public awaited this feat with fervor. Twenty years after leaving the elite of the Davis Cup, Morocco received Colombia last weekend with the hope of rejoining the World Group I. But on the clay courts of Casablanca, the stakes eventually took precedence over the game, giving way to a deleterious climate.
A celebration deemed provocative
Everything changed during the third match of the day on Sunday. After a close win in doubles for Colombia, the young Moroccan prodigy Reda Bennani faced Nicolás Mejía to keep Morocco alive. Despite a fierce fight, the Moroccan lost in three sets (6-1 / 2-6 / 6-4), thus leaving the point of the final victory to the South American team (3-1 over all matches).
It is at the moment of concluding that the situation degenerated. Once the last point was scored, Nicolás Mejía turned towards the bleachers and the Moroccan bench by placing a finger on his mouth. This gesture of 'chut', intended to silence a particularly noisy and hostile audience throughout the game, was perceived as a provocation by the players and the Moroccan staff.
Excesses in stands and police escorts
The reaction was not long in coming. Muscular verbal exchanges erupted between the two benches, while the audience, until then boiling but correct, shifted into aggressiveness. Insults were hurled and, even more serious, several bottles of water were thrown onto the court towards the Colombian players and staff.
«You have no idea what was happening on the field and what they (the spectators) were shouting at me during the whole match.»
The images, which quickly went around the web, show a security service overwhelmed by the animosity of the spectators. Faced with escalating tensions, the Colombian players had to return to the locker rooms under high protection. According to several local sources, the visiting team even had to be escorted by police to their hotel to ensure their safety.
On social networks, Mejia spoke to review the events and denounce what happened during her match.
«For people who say I celebrated badly... You have no idea what was happening on the field and what they (the spectators) were shouting at me during the whole match, at me, the team and my family. So proud of my team and being Colombian,"
he posted.
A bitter epilogue for Moroccan tennis
If Colombia leaves with their ticket for the World Group play-offs, bitterness is doubled for Morocco. Sportingly, Hicham Arazi’s men missed their walk by a small margin. But it is especially the image of national tennis that emerged from this weekend.
"We thought we were in a boxing match or a football final under tension, far from the usual values of tennis," regretted some users on social networks. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) could also take up the case and impose sanctions following these excesses, which contrast with the spirit of fair play normally associated with the Davis Cup.
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Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.