What a way to lose.Already down two sets to love and after dropping a serve to go down 2-1 in the third, 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov showed his frustration by forcefully swatting the ball off the court, as players often do.Unfortunately for the No. 7 ranked junior player in the world, the ball struck chair umpire Arnaud Gabas directly in the eye, resulting in a default (forfeit) of the match and subsequently ending Canada's run at the 2017 Davis Cup.It was a bit of bad luck and a whole lot of carelessness on the part of Shapovalov, as Canada's hopes of advancing to the quarters were halted in one of the weirdest and downright wackiest endings to a match you will ever see. The 2016 Wimbledon junior champion, and youngest member of Canada's Davis Cup squad, was obviously heartbroken and distraught after the incident.Shapovalov tweeted an apology message Monday morning:
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The ball left visible bruising around the eye socket of Gabas, but to this point no serious injuries to the French chair umpire have been reported. Shapovalov will be fined, according to BBC reporter Russell Fuller, and the International Tennis Association can significantly increase that fine and suspend Shapovalov from future tournament play if they choose.
Canada was without world No. 4 Milos Raonic, while No. 1 Andy Murray did not take the court for Great Britain, as the grueling ATP men's schedule prompted 11 of the top 12 players in the world to skip Davis Cup action this weekend.In a rematch of the 2015 quarterfinal in London that saw Great Britain advance and capture its first title in 79 years, GB will face France from April 7-9.Denis Shapovalov will be fined $7000 by the referee: maximum fine of $12000 would only have applied had his actions been deemed intentional
— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller)February 6, 2017