Pep talk earns tennis umpire a suspension

The chair umpire who climbed out of his seat to talk with Nick Kyrgios during a U.S. Open match was suspended for two tournaments by the ATP. Mohamed Lahyani will not officiate at his next two scheduled events in China, the men’s tour said Tuesday. The ATP said Lahyani’s actions were “deemed to have compromised the impartiality that is required of an official.” The Aussie was losing 3-0 in the second set when Lahyani left his chair to speak to Kyrgios, leaning with his hands on his knees while saying, “I want to help you.” Kyrgios wound up beating Pierre-Hugues Herbert in five sets. Herbert said at the time he thought Lahyani should be sanctioned in some way. “I don’t think he’s a coach, he’s an umpire and he should stay on his chair for that,” Herbert said.