Nick Kyrgios pep-talk umpire Mohamed Lahyani suspended by ATP Tour

Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani has been suspended by the ATP Tour following his bizarre pep talk to Nick Kyrgios at the US Open.
Kyrgios lost the opening set and was down 1-4 in the second during his second-round match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert when the Swedish official stepped down from his chair.
Lahyani told the Australian “I want to help you”, adding, “this isn’t you. I know that. You are great for tennis.”
Nick Kyrgios courts controversy again after bizarre US Open umpire pep-talk incident.https://t.co/f8vKbr6AVe
— Tennis365 (@T365Official) August 30, 2018
Kyrgios turned things around and went on to win the match, but the umpire was heavily criticised after the match.
US Open organisers admitted that Lahyani went “beyond protocol”, but opted not to suspend him for the remainder of the tournament.
However, tennis great Billie Jean King then called on officials to ban him from the sport “for life” in the wake of the Serena Williams US Open final run-in with Carlos Ramos.
.@SerenaWilliams furore sees Billie Jean King call for chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to be banned from the sport ‘for life’ https://t.co/QDSDFlRZSC
— Tennis365 (@T365Official) September 12, 2018
The ATP Tour has since decided to suspend the 52-year-old Swede two weeks.
A statement from the ATP Tour, published in The New York Times said: “Despite the incident taking place at the U.S. Open, under the jurisdiction of the United States Tennis Association, the incident was still subject to ATP disciplinary action due to Lahyani’s position as full-time ATP employee and the high standards the ATP requires of its chair umpires regardless of the event to which he or she is assigned, in order to maintain the integrity of the Tour.”
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon day four: Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal battle on
Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Liam Broady won on Thursday to keep the British flag flying.
-
Wimbledon
Alex De Minaur joins girlfriend Katie Boulter in Wimbledon third round
The 20-year-old won the first set on Court One but fell to a 5-7 7-6 (0) 6-2 6-3 defeat.
-
Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon: ‘Every day is a challenge’
Rafael Nadal is prepared to grind his way into the second week at SW19.
-
News
Iga Swiatek made to sweat to progress at Wimbledon and extend streak
Karolina Pliskova was the big seed to exit the women’s draw on Thursday while Kirsten Flipkens bowed out.
-
Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios has the belief he can win Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios believes in himself even if nobody else does.
-
Wimbledon
Exclusive – John Lloyd on the key reason for the stunning form of Katie Boulter and British players at Wimbledon
The stunning success of British players at Wimbledon contunued as Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Liam Broady all won.
-
Wimbledon
Heather Watson ‘pretty relaxed’ as she looks to break new ground at Wimbledon
This is Heather Watson’s fourth time in the Wimbledon third round.
-
Wimbledon
Liam Broady hails ‘amazing feeling’ after beating Diego Schwartzman for biggest win of his career
The British No 5 lost 11 games in a row but fought back to down the 12th seed.
-
Wimbledon
Kyle Edmund set to end 18-month injury nightmare with Wimbledon mixed doubles appearance
The former world No 14 will play mixed doubles in SW19.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon Centre Court delight for Katie Boulter and home crowd as she upsets Karolina Pliskova
Katie Boulter reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.