Nick Kyrgios is through to the third round of the 2018 US Open in typical Nick Kyrgios circumstances, but, as we often blame Nick for his on-court antics, this time the peculiar behaviour came from the chair umpire.
Against world No. 75 Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the 30th seeded Aussie lost the first set 6-4 and found himself down 3-0 in the second when one of the most bizarre incidents on a tennis court occurred.
Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani actually climbed out of his chair and stood over Kyrgios, giving him a pep talk as the Aussie contemplated his predicament.
“I want to help you, you know, I want to help you,” Lahyani said to a bemused Kyrgios who sat hunched forward drinking from his water bottle.
MORE: Chair umpire gives Nick Kyrgios mid-match pep talk in bizarre scenes at Flushing Meadows
“I’ve seen your matches: you’re great for tennis.
“Nick, I know this is not you.”
Kyrgios won the second set after a pep talk from the chair umpire Mo Lahyani.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 30, 2018
A USTA rep told me it is already looking into Lahyani's conduct in this match.
Absurd scenes. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6qTMaoqPQd
Kyrgios went onto win the second set and then the match, leaving a final game score of 4-6 7-6 (6) 6-3 6-0, but the umpire's conduct is sure to come into question, and The United States Tennis Association later said an investigation into Lahyani’s behaviour was taking place after issuing a relatively unsatisfactory statement.
"Lahyani was concerned that Kyrgios might need medical attention. Lahyani told Kyrgios that if he was feeling ill, that the tournament could provide medical help. He also informed Kyrgios that if his seeming lack of interest in the match continued, that as the chair umpire, he would need to take action. He again suggested to Kyrgios that he could receive medical attention," the USTA statement read.
Kyrgios has now set up a mouth-watering third round clash with Roger Federer, who hasn't dropped a set in his opening two games of the tournament.
The Fed Express, seeded second just behind world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, weighed in on the umpiring controversy that took place in Kyrgios' second round encounter.
"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," Federer told reporters.
"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' opponent slammed the unusual antics post-match.
"I know there's something that should be done, I think. Like when I get a warning or when I get a point penalty, I get a fine," Herbert said.
"I think it's both ways. It's not like the umpires can give warnings and point penalty, then we have fines to pay."
Kyrgios himself didn't think there was anything that Lahyani did that could be considered coaching.
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
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 30, 2018
Moving on from yet another chapter in the colourful career of Nick Kyrgios, our other Aussie superstars had mixed results on day four of the 2018 US Open.
Teenage sensation Alex de Minaur is through to the third round of the US Open, equalling his best result in a Grand Slam after Wimbledon last year, when he defeated American Frances Tiafoe, 6-4 6-0 5-7 6-2.
The 19-year-old was cruising before a minor hiccup in the third set, and is likely to play Marin Cilic in the third round.
John Millman continued his impressive run with a four-set victory over 14th seeded Italian, Fabio Fognini.
This equals the Aussie's 2017 efforts where he made the third round in New York, and this year he will face Mikhail Kukushkin. If he progressed through to the round of 64, he will play the winner of Kyrgios-Federer.
Despite winning the first set against German Phillip Kohlschreiber, Matthew Ebden lost in four sets 7-6 (1) 3-6 2-6 0-6.
For our Aussie women, Ajla Tomljanović was bundled out in three sets against Kateřina Siniaková, 3-6 7-6 (3) 6-7 (4).
It was the second year in a row that Tomljanović had made the second round of the US Open.
