US Open umpire who encouraged Nick Kyrgios on court is suspended for two tournaments

Incident | Kyrgios had been struggling and Lahyani told him: “I want to help you. You are great for tennis. I know this is not you.”
Matt Majendie @mattmajendie19 September 2018

The umpire who encouraged Nick Kyrgios on court during the US Open has been banned from officiating for two tournaments.

Mohamed Lahyani, who umpired Andy Murray’s 2013 Wimbledon final win, came down from his chair during Kyrgios’s match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

At the time, Kyrgios had been struggling and Lahyani told him: “I want to help you. You are great for tennis. I know this is not you.”

The Australian went on to beat Herbert, leading to an investigation by the ATP, who reached their conclusion with a suspension.

“Lahyani’s actions in the match were deemed to have compromised the impartiality that is required of an official,” the ATP said in a statement.

No sanction was taken against the official during the tournament in New York, with Lahyani given the all-clear to continue despite US Open organisers saying his actions had been “beyond protocol”.

The Swede has been removed from officiating at the China Open and the Shanghai Masters. He will return for the Stockholm Open on October 15.

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