Davis Cup: Shapovalov remorseful after errant whack hurts ump, sinks Canada
OTTAWA— Denis Shapovalov says he’s ashamed and embarrassed for his actions that caused a Canadian defeat at the Davis Cup.
The 17-year-old from Richmond Hill saw his Davis Cup action come to an abrupt end Sunday when he hit umpire Arnaud Gabas with an errant ball.
Shapovalov was automatically defaulted under tennis rules, allowing Britain’s Kyle Edmund to earn an easy 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 victory and 3-2 series win. Britain advances to the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals as the winner of the tie.
Shapovalov was remorseful and emotional while addressing the media.
“Obviously this is unacceptable behaviour from me,” Shapovalov said. “I just feel awful for letting my team down, for letting my country down, for acting a way that I would never want to act.
“I can promise that’s the last time I will do anything like that.”
The crowd of 7,497 at TD Place was stunned when Shapovalov, who had just been broken by Edmund and was disappointed with a shot, took a ball out of his pocket and hit it in frustration. Gabas of France had swelling and bruising under his left eye and was taken to hospital for a precautionary evaluation.
Team Canada captain Martin Laurendeau had never dealt with a similar situation, but clearly felt for his young player.
“He’s not that kind of guy. It’s just the beginning of his career so he’ll draw a big lesson out of this,” Laurendeau said. “Curbing your emotions on the court is probably something that he’ll need to make a living out of this sport. You can’t compete if you don’t have emotional control and this lesson can serve him for the rest of his career and the rest of his life.”
Britain will play France in the quarters, while Canada will be forced to play a World Group playoff tie to keep its spot for 2018 play.
Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil defeated Daniel Evans 7-6(3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) earlier Sunday, tying the Davis Cup World Group tie at 2-2.
It was a disappointing turn of events considering how well Pospisil had played earlier, but he was quick to come to his teammate’s defence on Twitter.
“No one is nicer or carries themselves better for a 17 y/o than Shapovalov. Everyone can see that today was an accident. Can happen to anyone,” Pospisil tweeted.
Team captain Leon Smith called the turn of events “a shame.”
“I feel sorry for Denis. He’s gotten a harsh lesson,” Smith said. “He’ll learn I’m sure. But firstly I hope the umpire’s OK.”