BRITAIN has advanced to a Davis Cup quarter-final matchup against France in dramatic fashion after the decisive final singles match ended when Canada’s Denis Shapovalov hit the umpire with a ball.
The 17-year-old Israeli-born Canadian was defaulted after his unusual move, handing Britain’s Kyle Edmund a 6-3 6-4 2-1 triumph after only 78 minutes and giving Britain a 3-2 victory in the first-round tie at Ottawa.
“It was a strange way to finish,” Edmund said. “I’ve never been part of something like that.”
Britain advanced to a quarter-final matchup April 7-9 against France with that winner facing either Spain or Serbia in a September semi-final.
Vasek Pospisil had blasted 25 aces in a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-5) victory over Dan Evans after three hours and 23 minutes earlier to draw Canada level at 2-2, setting the stage for the final drama.
Edmund lost to Pospisil in three sets in Friday’s singles while Shapovalov fell to Evans in Friday’s opening match of the tie.
“Obviously a bit of a surprise what happened at the end there,” British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith said.
“It’s a shame that it has happened that way and I feel for the young lad because he’s a great talent and he has learned a harsh lesson today.
-news.com.au
