LOS ANGELES —

The US Open umpire criticized for giving Australia’s Nick Kyrgios a pep talk has been hit with a two-week suspension, reports said Tuesday.

Swedish official Mohamed Lahyani triggered controversy last month after coming down from his chair to give advice to Kyrgios during his second round game against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The US Open later said Lahyani “went beyond protocol” with his conduct.

“I want to help you,” Lahyani could be heard telling Kyrgios, who was a set and 3-0 down at the time.

“This isn’t you. I know that. I have seen your matches. You are great for tennis.”

Kyrgios subsequently captured 19 of the next 25 games, claiming a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-0 win.

“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,” a US Open statement said.

Reports citing the ATP Tuesday said Lahyani, 52, had been suspended for two weeks over the incident.

“Lahyani’s actions in the match were deemed to have compromised the impartiality that is required of an official,” the ATP was quoted as saying. Lahyani’s suspension means he missed the China Open in Beijing and the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Kyrgios last month insisted that Lahyani’s intervention had not influenced his performance.

However players, coaches and fans accused Lahyani of overstepping the mark.

“It’s not the umpire’s role to go down from the chair. But I get what he was trying to do. He behaves the way he behaves,” said 20-time major winner Roger Federer. “You as an umpire take a 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.”

Dzumhur wins opener

Defending champion Damir Dzumhur eased into the second round of the St Petersburg Open Tuesday with a straight-set win over Austrian qualifier Lucas Miedler.

Bosnian Dzumhur, who became the first player to win both the Moscow and St Petersburg tournaments in a single season last year, claimed a 7-5, 6-3 victory over world number 207 Miedler.

“It’s the first time ever that I’ve come somewhere as the defending champion. It’s a very special tournament for me and it was really tough to control my emotions,” sixth seed Dzumhur said.

Local favourite Daniil Medvedev also advanced into the second round by beating Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-4, 6-1.

German Jan-Lennard Struff knocked out Russia’s Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to set up a last-16 clash with top seed Dominic Thiem, who enjoyed an opening-round bye. — AFP