Gabas: “players can be a bit crazy”

Davis Cup umpire Arnaud Gabas has spoken to the media after being pelted in the eye by a ball struck by a frustrated Denis Shapovalov.

Shapovalov, a teenager from Canada, was playing Kyle Edmund in the live fifth rubber of his country’s World Group tie against Great Britain in Ottawa.

After falling behind two sets to love and a break in the third, Shapovalov swatted a ball in frustration – which smacked Gabas in the face.

He was immediately defaulted – handing Great Britain a 3-2 victory – while Gabas went to Ottawa General Hospital for scans.

“At the moment I’m OK, I’m on painkillers but I have an appointment to see a specialist when I get home,” said Gabas, who was thankfully found to have sustained no damage to his cornea or retina.

“I came off the court looking like Rocky Balboa. The video is quite shocking to look at. We have to avoid some balls during the season but this one I had no chance. I feel quite lucky it wasn’t worse.

“Players can be a bit crazy these days. I could see he was angry and that something was coming but I never thought he would hit me.”