Shapovalov fined after eye incident
DENIS SHAPOVALOV has been fined $7,000 (£5,623) after hitting umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye with a ball during Canada’s Davis Cup tie against Great Britain, the International Tennis Federation has announced.
Shame-faced Denis Shapovalov also apologised for letting down his country after his default handed Great Britain a dramatic Davis Cup victory over Canada.
The 17-year-old was trailing Kyle Edmund 6-3 6-4 2-1 and his service had been broken in the third set when he smashed a ball in anger that struck Gabas.
It was clearly not intentional from the Wimbledon junior champion but, with Gabas in obvious pain, tie referee Brian Earley had no choice but to halt the match and leave Britain the victors.
There were boos from the crowd at the TD Place Arena, who had earlier roared Vasek Pospisil to a 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7/5) victory over Dan Evans that set up the deciding rubber.
An emotional Shapovalov, who was playing in only his second Davis Cup tie, said: “I feel incredibly ashamed and embarrassed and I just feel awful for letting my team down, for letting my country down, for acting in a way that I would never want to act.
“I can promise that’s the last time I will do anything like that. I’m going to learn from this and try to move past it.’’
The International Tennis Federation announced Gabas had bruising and swelling to his left eye and had been sent to Ottawa General Hospital for a precautionary evaluation.
Canada captain Martin Laurendeau accepted the decision was the only possible course of action but said he would have no qualms about picking Shapovalov in the future.
He said: “Hopefully this makes Denis a stronger person, a better player but a better person, and he’s already a great kid.’’
It was certainly not the way Britain wanted the tie to be decided as they move through to a quarter-final in France in April.
Captain Leon Smith said: “I thought Kyle was terrific and it would have been nice for him to get over the line with a straight-sets win. To finish like that, I feel sorry for Denis. He’s learned a harsh lesson. The most important thing is the umpire’s okay because that can be really, really dangerous.”