Umpire hit by ball in Canada undergoes surgery

pulse 12:24 - 12 February 2017

Tennis umpire Arnaud Gabas was taken to hospital after he was hit in the face with a ball hit by Denis Shapovalov during a Davis Cup tie between Canada and Great Britain in Ottawa

The 35-year-old's retina and cornea were undamaged but the Frenchman required surgery after the incident in Ottawa.

French tennis umpire Arnaud Gabas, hit in the eye by a ball fired by Canadian Denis Shapovalov during a Davis Cup tie against Great Britain, has undergone surgery on a fractured eye socket.

Sources told AFP that the 35-year-old's retina and cornea were undamaged but confirmed a report in L'Equipe sports daily that the Frenchman required surgery after the incident in Ottawa.

Shapovalov, 17, handed Britain the Davis Cup tie when he was disqualified against Kyle Edmund last Sunday for bashing the ball in frustration and inadvertently catching Gabas in the eye.

Gabas, initially taken to hospital as a precaution, was left with bruising and swelling.

Tennis authorities imposed a 7,000 dollar (6.250 euro) fine on Shapovalov who apologised over the incident.