Denis Shapovalov fined for hitting Davis Cup umpire in the face with tennis ball

Eleanor Crooks7 February 2017

Denis Shapovalov has been fined £5,623 ($7,000) for his reckless actions in Great Britain's Davis Cup victory over Canada, the International Tennis Federation has announced.

The 17-year-old Canadian smashed a ball in anger during the third set of the deciding rubber against Kyle Edmund, hitting umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye, and was immediately defaulted.

Shapovalov could have been fined up to a maximum of $12,000 on site by referee Brian Earley but the unintentional nature of the offence and his remorse will have been taken into account.

The ITF could take further action, imposing a larger fine or even a ban, but a spokesman for the governing body told Press Association Sport no additional punishment is anticipated.

Gabas was taken to Ottawa General Hospital as a precaution but no damage to the cornea or retina was found. He will see his personal eye doctor in France on Tuesday for a further examination.

Shapovalov had previously said he was "incredibly ashamed and embarrassed" over the incident, telling reporters: "I went back and spoke to the umpire afterwards and apologised directly to him.

"Luckily he was okay but obviously it's unacceptable behaviour from me. 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."

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