Ref slammed over conduct

DARREN WALTON ROGER Federer has condemned US Open officials and says a repeat of Flushing Meadows’ umpiring farce “won’t happen” in his showdown with Nick Kyrgios tonight.

The United States Tennis Association released a statement yesterday attempting to explain why Swedish official Mohamed Lahyani chose to leave his chair and speak with Kyrgios during the Australian’s second-round comeback win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Despite Lahyani being picked up by on-court microphones pleading with Kyrgios to try harder as he trailed the Frenchman by a set and 3-0, the USTA claimed the Swede was merely concerned about Kyrgios’s health.

The official response from tournament referee Brian Earley didn’t wash with the world’s tennis media, fans or Herbert.

“I am even more upset against the statement of the USTA that is clearly taking us for fools,” tweeted the Frenchman.

“To err is human but I still wait for explanations. When we players are making mistakes on court we are sanctioned.”

Federer made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate any such conduct from an umpire.

“That won’t happen,” the 20-times grand slam champion said when asked how he’d react if “hypothetically” that occurred when he played Kyrgios for a spot in the last 16.

“It will not happen twice in a row. It’s not the umpire’s role to go down from the chair.”

AUSTRALIAN Alex de Minaur has made a fuss-free entry to the third round of the US Open in New York.

The humble teenager could hardly have been more impressive in taking out highly rated young American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the last 32 for the second successive grand slam.