There has been fresh controversy at this year's US Open after umpire Mohamed Lahyani left his seat midway through a set to offer Australian player Nick Kyrgios some words of encouragement.
Kyrgios was down 4–6, 0–3 in his second-round match against Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, but fought back to win the match 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–0 after Lahyani's intervention.
Appears that umpire Mohamed Layani is giving Nick Kyrgios a talking to as he trails PH Herbert 4-6 0-3, coming down from his chair to address him. "This isn't you," he says. Some 130 mph+ double faults from NK.
"I want to help you. I want to help you," Lahyani could be heard saying. "I've seen your matches: you're great for tennis. Nick, I know this is not you."
Remarkable scene, this. Nick Kyrgios receiving a mid-match pep talk from the *umpire* for another conspicuous lack of effort https://t.co/vI1ooppYin
Righhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht...
The US Open has put out a statement regarding the interaction, saying Lahyani was concerned Kyrgios might need medical attention. "Lahyani told Kyrgios that if he was feeling ill, that the tournament could provide medical help," said the statement.
US Open Statement from US Open Tournament Referee on the Nick Kyrgios vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert Match
Of course people pretty quickly pointed out that you could hear the exchange on nearby microphones.
And Herbert, Kyrgios's opponent, has also released a statement saying he was angry with the umpire and that Kyrgios's behaviour and motivation on court had changed from the moment Lahyani intervened.
My statement @usopen @ATPWorldTour @usta
After the match, Kyrgios told reporters the umpire was not trying to coach him and that he wasn't sure if it was encouragement. "He said he liked me," said Kyrgios. "I'm not sure if that's encouragement. He just said that it's not a good look."
I shouldn’t have tweeted so quickly after the match. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but I can assure you it wasn’t coaching. https://t.co/hvlwPyzC0E
On Friday, Swiss champion Roger Federer, who is Kyrgios's next opponent, said it was not the umpire's job to leave the chair and that it "won't happen again".
"He was there for too long. It's a conversation," he said. "Conversations can change your mindset. It can be a physio, a doctor, an umpire for that matter."
It's all very weird. Of course, Twitter had a field day with it.
Mo Layhani to Nick Kyrgios: "I need you to step in more on his second serves, and really attack the backhand"
I've got a transcript of Lahyani's pep talk and he told Kyrgios to serve out wide more on the deuce side and take some pace off his first serve. Plus 95% of Herbert's passes go cross court according to his iPad in the chair. Interesting!
[looks at the umpire havin a chat with kyrgios] hmm, kyrgioser and kyrgioser
Nick Kyrgios through in four sets after recovering from 6-4 3-0 down. Umpire Mohamed Lahyani's pep talk right up there with Sir Alex Ferguson's half-time team talk at White Hart Lane in 2001... #USOpen