Kyrgios’ ‘pep talk’ umpire suspended, claim reports

LOSANGELES:THE US Open umpire criticised for giving Australia’s Nick Kyrgios a pep talk has been hit with a two-week suspension, reports said on 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. “I want to help you,” Lahyani could be heard telling Kyrgios, who was a set and 3-0 down at the time. Kyrgios subsequently captured 19 of the next 25 games, claiming a 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-0 win.

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

INJURED NADAL TO SKIP TOURNAMENTS IN ASIA

MADRID:RAFAEL Nadal says he will not play in upcoming tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai because of an injured right knee.

Nadal says he and his team decided to skip the Asia swing to recover. The top-ranked Spaniard retired in the semifinals of the US Open this month because of the knee problem. He had dropped the opening two sets against Juan Martin del Potro when he retired.

Nadal had won the Beijing tourney last year. He lost the final in Shanghai to Roger Federer.

OSAKA ROARS INTO TOKYO QUARTERS

TOKYO: Naomi Osaka pulverised Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals on Wednesday in her first match since her historic US Open triumph.

The 20-year-old, who stunned Serena Williams to become Japan’s first grand slam singles champion earlier this month, fired down 10 aces in a fearsome display in Tokyo.

NISHIKORI DOWNS METZ CHAMPION

METZ, FRANCE: Kei Nishikori returned to action for the first time since losing in the US Open semi-finals with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over defending champion Peter Gojowczyk in the Metz second round Wednesday.

The Japanese world No 12 beat the 45th-ranked Gojowczyk in 94 minutes and will face either Ugo Humbert of France or Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili for a semi-final place.

WAWRINKA ON SONG IN ST PETERSBURG

STPETERSBURG:THREE-TIME Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka advanced to the quarter-finals of the St Petersburg Open on Wednesday with a win over Russian fourth seed Karen Khachanov in two tie-break sets.

Wawrinka, a wildcard entry, knocked off world No 24 Khachanov 7-6(10), 7-6(1).