OTTAWA—Britain advanced to the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals following Kyle Edmund’s 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 victory over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov on Sunday.
The match came to an early end in the third set after Shapovalov launched a ball in anger that hit the chair umpire in the left eye. Shapovalov had just been broken by Edmund, then took a ball out of his pocket and hit it in frustration. The contact with the umpire resulted in a default.
The 17-year-old Shapovalov was clearly devastated by the turn of events, holding his head in a towel.
Britain will play France in the quarters and is automatically assured a spot in the World Group next year. Canada will be forced to play a World Group playoff to keep its spot for 2018 play.
Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil defeated Daniel Evans 7-6(3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) earlier Sunday, tying the Davis Cup World Group tie at 2-2.
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