Hlavackova speaks out on Davis Cup umpire's eye injury

As has been well documented, Arnaud Gabas, a professional tennis umpire from France, was the official who suffered a blow to the face due to Canadian teen Denis Shapovalov unleashing a ball in frustration. The incident during a Davis Cup tie saw Shapovalov disqualified and Gabas rushed to medical attention. A subsequent scan of Gabas' left-eye area back in his home country revealed a fracture, and he underwent surgery.

Czech doubles specialist Andrea Hlavackova remarked on Twitter that she knows well what Gabas is going through.

It was in the semifinals of the Rio Olympics in August that Hlavackova, partnering compatriot Lucie Hradecka, took a hit to the face at the quick net hands of Martina Hingis.

The Czech tandem lost the point and the match. Worse, Hlavackova reportedly suffered a fractured orbital bone similar to the injury that Gabas sustained. After a visit to the hospital that night, Hlavackova and Hradecka would lose the bronze-medal match the next day.

For those who don't think tennis is a contact sport, per se, consider the unfortunate case of Hlavackova.

And all the more possible of being controlled, it might be good to see more tennis organizations and brands the likes of Yonex assign stiff penalties to players who lash out irrationally with their equipment.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.