The man Nick Kyrgios defeated in the second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday has broken his silence since video of the chair umpire, Mo Lahyani, giving Kyrgios a pep talk stirred controversy.
PH Herbert said he was “angry” over Lahyani’s actions and “upset” by the USTA’s statement following the match, in which US Open officials said Lahyani got down from his chair during a changeover in the second set to check on Kyrgios’ condition because he couldn’t hear him on the noisy court. Lahyani then, according to the statement, warned Kyrgios that if he continued to show a lack of interest in the match, Lahyani might need to consider punishment.
Following the exchange, which other witnesses have relayed as Lahyani giving Kyrgios words of encouragement, the 30th-ranked Australian stormed back to defeat Herbert 4-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-0, and advance to the third round.
“First of all I did not hear the discussion between Lahyani and Nick and it did not affect me at all,” Herbert said in a statement he posted to Twitter, in both French and English. “Nick from his side is not to blame as he did not ask for anything. But his behavior and motivation on court changed from the moment and then he dominated the match.
“On the other hand after seeing the video I am angry against the umpire. He should not go down of his chair and try to reason [with] Nick. Did this action affect the game? We will never know …
“I am even more upset against the statement of the USTA that is clearly taking us for fools. We all hear on the video what the umpire said to Nick overpassing his functions. Err is human but I still wait for explanations. When we players are making mistakes on court we are sanctioned.”
Spectators on Court 17 apparently heard a different version of Lahyani’s message to Kyrgios than what the USTA described. According to a New York Times reporter, Lahyani told the 23-year-old, known for being a hothead on the court: “I want to help you. … I’ve seen your matches. You’re great for tennis. … I know this is not you.”
Roger Federer, Kyrgios’ third-round opponent after he won in straight sets Thursday, said he did not agree with Lahyani’s decision to approach Kyrgios during the break, suggesting that their conversation shifted momentum in Kyrgios’ favor.
“That’s not the umpire’s role, to go down from the chair,” Federer said. “I get what he was trying to do, but he behaves the way he behaves and then you as the umpire take the 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, but it was not just about ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘I’m not feeling so well,’ and then you’re back up to the chair. He was there for too long.
“It’s a conversation and conversations can change your mindset. It can be a physio, it can be a doctor, it can be an umpire for that matter. So that’s why it won’t happen again. I think everybody knows that.”
