Controversy at US Open: referee gives a star in need pep talk

Remarkable moment at the US Open in the match between Aussie Nick Kyrgios and the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert a remarkable moment. In the second set dropped by the referee from his chair during a kampwissel to Kyrgios courage to speak. The Australian was at that moment, the 4-6 and 0-3 behind.

“I want to help you. I look at your matches and you’re a tremendous person for the sport. This is the you not, that I know”, said the Swedish ref Mohamed Lahyani against Kyrgios. The pep talk bore fruit for the Australian won still with a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 and 6-0.

Herbert expressed afterwards his displeasure about the intervention of the referee. “It is not his role to do that. He is not a coach but a ref and he should not of his chair. A ref, a player must not help.” In a reaction, the organisation of the US Open know that Lahyani “concerned” was to Kyrgios and wanted to see if he need medical attention.

Kyrgios plays in the eighth finals against Roger Federer. The Swiss legend was asked for a response. Also Federer is not the task of a referee to move from his seat. “As a ref do you take decisions from your seat, whether you like it or not. You should not be that way for someone to speak to. I don’t know what he told me, that interests me also not, but he is too long for him remained. Such a conversation may be the setting of a player change. It should not happen again.”