Denis Shapovalov apologizes for hitting ump; 'It's just unacceptable'

Canada's Denis Shapovalov has apologized for his inadvertent striking of the umpire with a ball during his Davis Cup rubber against Britain's Kyle Edmund, which led to the teenager being defaulted.

Down 2-0 in sets, and with the third set tied 1-1, he slammed a ball angrily, hitting the chair umpire. Shapovalov told reporters in Ottawa that he spoke to umpire Arnaud Gabas, who was struck in the eye and experienced "bruising and swelling," according to the International Tennis Federation.

"I went back and spoke to the referee and apologized directly to him," said Shapovalov. "Luckily he’s OK, but obviously it’s just unacceptable behavior from me. To be honest, I just feel incredibly ashamed and embarrassed, and I just feel awful for letting my team down and my country down for acting a way that I would never want to act. I can promise that that’s the last time I will do anything like that."

In a statement, the ITF said it ruled that Shapovalov "did not intend" to strike the umpire, and noted that he went to the umpire "in the referee’s office where he was being attended and apologized."

The default was accompanied by a $7,000 fine. No further sanction has been announced.