Denis Shapovalov has been fined $7,000 (£5,623) 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 while trailing Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 during the third set of the deciding rubber, hitting the 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 the referee, Brian Earley, but the unintentional nature of the offence and the player’s remorse will have been taken into account.
Shapovalov said immediately after the incident: “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 ITF could take further action, imposing a larger fine or even a ban, but a spokesman for the sport’s governing body said 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.
The fine is less than the €10,000 given to David Nalbandian when he kicked an advertising hoarding into the leg of a line judge during the Queen’s final in 2012.
