Federer blasts umpire in Kyrgios 'I want to help you' row
Last updated on: 31 August,2018 11:37 pm
Like Federer, Herbert insisted that Lahyani had over-stepped the mark
NEW YORK (AFP) - Roger Federer said respected umpire Mohamed Lahyani was wrong to get out of his chair to give Nick Kyrgios a controversial pep-talk at the US Open on Thursday which sparked a row over impartiality of officials in the sport.
Lahyani stunned fans when he climbed down from his chair in the second set of Kyrgios s second round match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France on Court 17 to seemingly berate the Australian for a lack of effort.
"I want to help you. This isn t you. I know that. You are great for tennis," Lahyani can be heard saying.
Kyrgios was trailing by a set and 3-0 at the time, but went on to pocket 19 of the next 25 games to win 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-0, setting up a third round clash with five-time US Open champion Federer on Saturday.
"It s not the umpire s role to go down from the chair. But I get what he was trying to do. He behaves the way he behaves," said Federer.
"You as an umpire take a decision on the chair, do you like it or don t you like it. But you don t go and speak like that, in my opinion.
"I don t know what he said. I don t care what he said. It was not just about How are you feeling? Oh, I m not feeling so well . Go back up to the chair. He was there for too long.
"It s a conversation. Conversations can change your mindset. It can be a physio, a doctor, an umpire for that matter. That s why it won t happen again. I think everybody knows that."
Kyrgios played down the incident, claiming Lahyani had merely said "he liked me" and that "he was just concerned with the way I was playing".
Like Federer, Herbert insisted that Lahyani had over-stepped the mark and would confront the official over the issue.