Mohamed Lahyani won't be removed from his US Open perch for counseling Nick Kyrgios.
The US Open announced the veteran chair umpire "went beyond protocol" encouraging an apathetic Kyrgios to engage during his second-round victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Thursday.
More: Federer Disputes Kyrgios on Chair Ump Chat
However, Lahyani will not face sanctions and will continue to chair matches for the rest of the tournament.
The US Open issued this statement on the matter:
US Open Statement on Chair Umpire Mohamed Lahyani
After a comprehensive review conducted by US Open officials, including US Open Tournament Director David Brewer, Tournament Referee Brian Earley and others, the US Open determined that chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani’s conduct during Thursday’s second-round match involving Nick Kyrgios and Pierre-Hugues Herbert went beyond protocol. Lahyani was advised to adhere to proper protocols in all matches that he officiates moving forward.
Lahyani will continue to officiate during the 2018 US Open. His performance will continue to be evaluated, as will that of all chair umpires throughout the course of the US Open.
The enigmatic Aussie trailed Herbert, 4-6, 0-3, when Lahyani climbed down from his umpire's chair and issued a pep talk to Kyrgios.
"I want to help you," Lahyani told Kyrgios at one point during the impromptu pep talk. "This isn't you."
Afterward, Kyrgios said the motivational chat had no impact on his performance.
Lahyani's words had no impact on his performance.
"I'm not sure it was encouragement," Kyrgios said. "He said he liked me. I'm not sure if that was encouragement. He just said that it's not a good look.
"Look, I wasn't feeling good. I know what I was doing out there wasn't good. I wasn't really listening to him, but I knew it wasn't a good look. It didn't help me at all. Like, I was down 5-2. If it was 3-0, and maybe if I would have come back and won six games in a row, fair enough. Didn't help me at all."
Herbert took the high road in response to what many on social media criticized as the umpire as unfair for providing coaching to Kyrgios.
Calling Lahyani "a really good umpire" Herbert said "I think he cares for Nick...he cares for the show," but said it is not the chair umpire's job to motivate players.
"No, I don't at all [agree]. I don't think he has to go down and take the position of a coach, like you see on the WTA Tour," Herbert said. "I don't know yet if it would have changed something. I just know he doesn't have to do that."
Asked his reaction to the controversy following his second-round win over Tennys Sandgren on Thursday night, Novak Djokovic said it's vital for chair umpires to be impartial, but believes Lahyani's intentions were good.
"I understand why people, maybe Herbert, is upset because that has happened. Obviously it's understandable," Djokovic said. "A chair umpire should be neutral. But everybody who knows Mohamed knows as well he's quite different from others. He's always very positive, smiles, tries to bring that energy to the court.
"He likes to make a show, as well, out of it. Knowing Mohamed, I really don't think that he meant to do it for any other reason but to really try to help Nick to understand that if he continues doing that, he might get, you know, fined or penalty or whatever, or warning."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy