The timing of a technical glitch that kept the Davis Cup final from being televised on Sportsnet could not have come at a worse time for tennis fans across Canada.

Instead of watching dramatic scenes of the country’s first win at the prestigious team event, viewers were left in the dark Sunday due to a problem with the network’s satellite feed.

Announcers Rob Faulds and Robert Bettauer, providing commentary from remote studios, had to make some final points by checking the online scoreboard.

“I say it well when I say it was just a really upsetting moment, and not just for me (but) everyone watching across the country,” Bettauer told The Canadian Press.

In a statement, Sportsnet apologized for the disruption and said weather-related issues were to blame.

Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who secured a 2-0 win over Australia’s Alex de Minaur, was mobbed by his teammates on the pitch after the final point in Malaga, Spain.

The bait glitches continued for the next celebration and cup ceremony.

“As I like to say, ‘What are the odds? Really?’ Bettauer said.

Sportsnet said it was finally able to “restore broadcast in full” and re-show the match and ceremony with commentary on Sunday night.

A Sportsnet communications manager did not immediately respond to a request for further details about the feed disruption.

Forced to turn around quickly, Faulds and Bettauer can only look at their laptops for updates and try their best under unusual circumstances. Apologies for technical difficulties have been made regularly.

Auger-Aliassime sealed the win when de Minaur’s return landed off the field. Unaware of details other than the score, Bettauer confirmed the result in person and simply said, “That’s it.”

Faulds can only provide a somewhat muted summary of what is usually a watershed call from Canada’s historic sporting moment.

“Canada has won the Davis Cup for the first time in its history,” he said on air. “And once again we apologize for the technicality, but this is an important point for Canada. We will try to get pictures for you soon as the celebrations get underway in Malaga, Spain.”

Bettauer, a former Davis Cup player and national team coach, has spent nearly 40 years as a broadcaster. For a technical issue to come up at an inopportune time was a first for him and Faulds, he said.

While technicians were “scramble wildly behind the scenes” to try to get feedback, Bettauer said he kept checking the ITF’s Davis Cup scoreboard for updates.

“You don’t panic and stay focused on what you need to do,” he said in a telephone interview. “You remember that you’re addressing audiences across the country and they’re in the same boat as you.”

Once the full video feed was secured, Bettauer and Faulds provided an additional match call to use for the replay.

Sportsnet’s team of commentators is usually on site for the Davis Cup games held in Canada, but remote coverage is provided for ground games, Bettauer said.

The network had previously sent a reporter to cover certain Davis Cup road games. Specifics on the staffing decision for this year’s final were not immediately available.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 28, 2022.

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