The US Tennis Association is investigating the conduct of chair umpire Mo Lahyani after he approached Nick Kyrgios during the second set and gave the mercurial No. 30 seed a pep talk.
Nick Kyrgios got a pep talk from an umpire mid-match at the US Open
An investigation is pending.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Lahyani can be heard trying to get Kyrgios’ head back in the game after he lost the first set 6-4 on Thursday. Three statements from Lahyani really stick out in the above video:
“I want to help you, I want to help you.”
“I’ve seen your matches: you’re great for tennis.”
“I can see that; I know this is not you.”
Kyrgios has shown a propensity in the past to quit matches when things aren’t going in his favor. Last year at the US Open he started rubbing his shoulder and eventually quit the tournament after being down two sets to one. It was a predictable exit for a player who consistently seems uncomfortable with expectations placed on him.
However, whether or not you think Kyrgios’ brand of “bad boy tennis,” which includes trash talking his opponents and hitting disrespectful winners is an element the game has been sorely missing, it’s beyond the pale for an official — let alone a chair umpire to become involved in a match.
Kyrgios got his head back in the game and is currently up two sets to one against France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
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