Tennis Umpire Undergoes Surgery On Eye After Being Hit

French Umpire Arnaud Gabas has undergone surgery on a fractured bone on his left eye after being hit by a ball by Canada's Denis Shapovalov during a Davis Cup tie with Britain.

"Chair umpire Arnaud Gabas has undergone successful surgery in France to repair a fracture of the orbital bone under his left eye," the International Tennis Federation told and added, "The fracture was detected when doctors performed X-rays upon Mr Gabas's return from Ottawa, where he was unintentionally hit by a ball during the Davis Cup... tie between Canada and Britain on 5 February."

During the third set of the match against Kyle Edmund,  17-year-old Denis Shapovalov smashed a ball in frustration which went on to hit the Umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye and Shapovalov was defaulted and also fined $7,00O by the International Tennis Federation. Shapovalov was ashamed and embarrassed as he let his team down and his act was not appropriate. "I can promise that's the last time I will do anything like that. I'm going to learn from this and try to move past it" he said.

Gabas was initially sent to Ottawa Hospital for precaution and is now recovering at home. "I am now concentrating on rest and rehabilitation so I can be back on the court in the near future," he said. Gabas also thanked the doctors for their excellent support as reported by ESPN.

Though it was an unintentional move from Shapovalov who was immediately defaulted which helped Britain to move to the quarterfinal of Davis Cup in France in April. Shapovalov did accept his fault and apologised straight away. "I remember hitting the ball," he told the BBC last week, "and I didn't even realise where it went and then I see the official bending down holding his eye. I was in complete shock and regret right away. I kind of blacked out for the next ten minutes" as reported in Telegraph.

Gabas has expressed his gratitude for all the messaged and support he has received during this time from all over the world.