There were incredible scenes at the Davis Cup match between Canada's Denis Shapovalov and Kyle Edmund of Great Britain after the game was awarded to Edmund due to Shapovalov whacking the tennis ball in frustration, full force, and hitting the unfortunate umpire Arnaud Gabas right in the face.
The game was at 6-3 6-4 2-1 to Edmund when Shapovalov overhit a back-hand, leading to him losing a game and consequently a break of serve early in the set. His reactive smack of his spare ball, instinctive, was deadly accurate in its aim.
Tennis player hits umpire in the face
Unfortunately for Shapovalov and Canada the result meant Canada lost out to GB 3-2 overall, meaning GB now advance to the quarter-finals.
Edmund said after the match (per the BBC):
It was a strange way to finish. I've never been part of something like that. I was pleased how I was going about processes of the match, I improved a lot from the last match.
On paper I had an advantage but you don't play on paper, you play on a hard court. Anything can happen in the Davis Cup so I'm very pleased
The Canadian coach's response?
I didn't see it.
Take a hike, Arsene.
