Davis Cup 'hijacked by extremists', forcing Canada-Israel matches to be played without fans

Tennis Canada’s decision to close tie-breaking tennis matches between Canada and Israel to the public due to “escalating safety concerns” is another example of how extremists have hijacked international events, says the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

“This decision was not taken lightly and was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation (ITF),” Tennis Canada said in a statement on Monday.

“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. At the heart of this difficult decision is our responsibility to protect people while ensuring that this Davis Cup tie can still take place,” said Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada.

The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men’s tennis. Organized by the International Tennis Federation, the annual contest hosts teams from over 150 competing countries.

The decision to close the Canada-Israel games to the public has been met with intense concern from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs .

EXTREMISTS SILENCE CANADIANS FROM CHEERING ON TEAM CANADA AT DAVIS CUPFollowing the announcement by Tennis Canada that security threats have forced the matches in Halifax to be played without spectators in the stadium, CIJA CEO @nshack issued this statement:“Cheering for Team…

— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) September 9, 2025

“Cheering for Team Canada is part of what it means to be Canadian. Yet, a small group of extremists have hijacked the Davis Cup, silencing thousands of fans—many of whom travelled from afar—who simply wanted to show pride in their country,” Noah Shack, CIJA CEO, said a statement on Monday.

“It is unacceptable that hate, harassment, and intimidation have made it unsafe to support our athletes in our own country.”

This disruption is one more added to a list putting Canada at “a crossroads,” he added.

He noted that extremists have targeted the Toronto International Film Festival, shut down Ottawa’s Capital Pride Parade, forced the closure of MPs’ offices “and even made everyday activities—like visiting bookstores or grocery stores—feel unsafe.”

He called on Canadian political leaders to decide whether the nation is governed by “peace, order, and good government” or fear and intimidation.

Previously, the CIJA praised tennis officials for refusing to succumb to demands made by hundreds of anti-Israel activists to cancel a Davis Cup match-up involving the Israeli team.

In a post on X, the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) applauded Tennis Canada and the ITF for not caving to the pressure and for “providing opportunities for athletes to compete while ensuring the event remains safe and focused on tennis.”

Today’s Tennnis Canada decision comes after more than 400 Canadian athletes and academics , including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, urged Tennis Canada to cancel the tie over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The tie, which will be played on Friday and Saturday, was initially to be played at Scotiabank Centre. Tennis Canada says fans who purchased tickets will receive a full refund within 30 days.

“Roughly 1,500 tickets per day are being refunded,” a Tennis Canada spokesperson told TSN .

Halifax Regional Police did not say whether threats were directed at the Israeli team, but said officers will be present at the event.

This isn’t the first sporting event involving calls for an Israeli team to be suspended or an event to be cancelled because of their participation.

Last month, the Italian Soccer Coaches’ Association said it wrote a letter calling for Israel to be suspended due to the war on Gaza. That was before the two sides met Monday in a men’s World Cup qualifier in Hungary.

On Monday, Montreal-based human rights group Palestinian and Jewish Unity asked Mayor Valérie Plante to bar the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team from competing in Sunday’s Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal.

The Canada-Israel matches are being broadcast on TVA Sports and CBC’s streaming services. The winner will advance to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers.

• Opinion: Campaign to bar Israeli athletes from Davis Cup is un-Canadian
• Tennis officials refuse call to cancel Davis Cup match-up between Israel and Canada in Halifax

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