USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier says a \u00ab\u00a0comprehensive review\u00a0\u00bb determined that chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani’s midmatch chat with the player went \u00ab\u00a0beyond our protocol,\u00a0\u00bb but he would not be sanctioned because of his \u00ab\u00a0exemplary track record.\u00a0\u00bb<\/b>
\nNEW YORK — The chair umpire who climbed out of his seat to talk with Nick Kyrgios during a second-round match will continue to officiate during the US Open.
A \u00ab\u00a0comprehensive review conducted by a number of tournament officials\u00a0\u00bb determined that chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani’s midmatch chat with Kyrgios went \u00ab\u00a0beyond our protocol,\u00a0\u00bb U. S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier told The Associated Press on Friday.
But Widmaier said that Lahyani would not be sanctioned because of his \u00ab\u00a0exemplary track record as an international tennis official.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0He now has a better understanding of what our protocols are and was informed that he needs to stick to those protocols for the rest of the tournament,\u00a0\u00bb Widmaier said. \u00ab\u00a0Each of his matches will be monitored.\u00a0\u00bb
The US Open said in a statement that Mohamed Lahyani left his chair to speak with Nick Kyrgios due to the noise level in the stadium and concerns about his health.
On Thursday, Kyrgios, a 23-year-old Australian, did not appear to be putting forth much effort while dropping the first set and falling behind 3-0 in the second against Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France. During a changeover, Lahyani left his chair — a rare sight in Grand Slam tennis — to speak to Kyrgios, leaning with hands on knees while saying, \u00ab\u00a0I want to help you.\u00a0\u00bb
The 30th-seeded Kyrgios wound up beating Herbert 4-6,7-6 (6), 6-3,6-0 and will face Roger Federer in the third round Saturday.
Widmaier said tournament referee Brian Earley and chief umpire Soeren Frienel were among those who \u00ab\u00a0met with Mohamed several times following yesterday’s match\u00a0\u00bb as part of the review.
Lahyani was expected to be assigned to work a match on Friday’s schedule, according to Widmaier.
Herbert said Thursday that he thought Lahyani should be sanctioned in some way.
\u00ab\u00a0This was not his job,\u00a0\u00bb Herbert said. \u00ab\u00a0I don’t think he’s a coach, he’s an umpire, and he should stay on his chair for that.\u00a0\u00bb
During an occasionally confrontational and sarcastic exchange with reporters after the match, Kyrgios laughed at the suggestion that he had received coaching or a pep talk from Lahyani.
\u00ab\u00a0I mean, like, I don’t have a coach. I haven’t had a coach for, like, years. Of course he wasn’t coaching me. Like, what are you talking about?\u00a0\u00bb Kyrgios said.
\u00ab\u00a0He said he liked me. I’m not sure if that was encouragement. He just said that it’s not a good look,\u00a0\u00bb Kyrgios said. \u00ab\u00a0Look. 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.\u00a0\u00bb
Kyrgios has run into trouble in the past for not giving his all during matches, even drawing a fine and suspension from the ATP men’s tour in 2016.
As Herbert put it: \u00ab\u00a0Just sometimes he’s mentally not here.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

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