In a thrilling display of tennis prowess, Canada triumphed over Israel with a commanding 4-0 victory in the Davis Cup tie, but the atmosphere was far from celebratory as the matches unfolded in an empty stadium in Halifax, overshadowed by protests.

The Canadian duo of Liam Draxl from Newmarket and Cleeve Harper from Calgary made an impressive comeback after losing the first set against Jordan Hasson and Ofek Shimanov, ultimately winning the first match with scores of 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.

The path to victory was secured earlier with singles wins from Draxl and Montreal's Gabriel Diallo on the preceding day, allowing Canada's doubles match victory to propel them forward to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers.

In a strategic move, Canada replaced world No. 35 Diallo with Harper for the final singles match against Orel Kimhi. Harper, making his Davis Cup debut, finished the clean sweep with a solid 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory.

Originally, Draxl was set to play an additional match against Daniel Cukierman if needed, but the outcome rendered that unnecessary.

Tennis Canada made the controversial decision to hold the event without spectators or media present, citing safety concerns raised by local authorities. This decision sparked significant backlash.

Outside the stadium, the atmosphere was charged as hundreds of protesters rallied against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, chanting and brandishing signs that drew attention to their cause—one banner even crafted from a tennis net read "Don’t play ball."

The protests were not limited to this event; around 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympian Moh Ahmed, had previously voiced their concerns, urging Tennis Canada to cancel the matches altogether.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed disappointment over the event's closure to fans, labeling the demonstrators as extremists who silenced thousands of supporters wishing to express national pride.

As the situation in Gaza worsens, with reports of famine issued by leading authorities and accusations of genocide circulating, the repercussions of the event resonate far beyond the tennis court.