Novak, Federer advance; pro-Nick umpire causes row

New york, AUGUST 31

Roger Federer set up a US Open third round clash against Nick Kyrgios who found himself at the centre of an impartiality row after an umpire climbed down from his chair to tell him: “I want to help you”.

Federer, 37, made it 18 wins in 18 second round appearances in New York by seeing off error-plagued Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-5 6-4 6-4. Also going through were Novak Djokovic as well as Marin Cilic, the champion in New York in 2014. Kyrgios, 23, reached the third round by seeing off France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert 4-6 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 6-0. However, the match created a huge storm after respected umpire Mohamed Lahyani lost patience with the under-performing 30th seed and climbed down from his chair to tell the Australian, trailing by a set and 0-3, to try harder. “I want to help you,” Lahyani could be heard saying. “This isn’t you. I know that. You are great for tennis.” A furious Herbert said that Lahyani had over-stepped the mark. “The umpire doesn’t have to talk to him at all. The only thing he can tell him is pay attention, because if you continue like this, I’m going to give you a warning,” said the 27-year-old. 

Djokovic downed Tennys Sandgren of the United States 6-1 6-3 6-7 (2/7) 6-2. Next up for Djokovic is either Serb compatriot Laslo Djere or Richard Gasquet of France.

Alexander Zverev made the third round for the first time in four tries after a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory over French lucky loser Nicolas Mahut. 

The 21-year-old will next face compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber. Marin Cilic had a second successive easy day with a 6-2 6-0 6-0 rout of Polish qualifier Hubert Hurkacz. 

Angelique Kerber kept her bid for a second US Open title, outlasting Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-2 5-7 6-4. Kerber will next take on Dominika Cibulkova after the Slovakian beat Hsieh Su-Wei 7-6 (7/3) 4-6 6-4. — AFP

IMPORTANT RESULTS

Second round: Men: R Federer bt B Paire 7-5 6-4 6-4, A Zverev bt N Mahut 6-4 6-4 6-2, N Djokovic bt T Sandgren 6-1 6-3 6-7 6-2, J Sousa bt P Busta 4-6 6-3 5-7 6-2 2-0 (retd.), D Schartzmann bt J Munar 6-2 6-0 5-7 6-2, J Millman bt F Fognini 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-1, M Kukushkin bt C Hyeon 7-6 6-2 6-3, N Kyrgios bt P Herbert 4-6 7-6 6-3 6-0, P Kohlschreiber bt M Ebden 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-0; Women: A Kerber bt J Larsson 6-2 5-7 6-4, P Kvitova bt W Yafan 7-5 6-3, C Garcia bt M Puig 6-2 1-6 6-4, A Sasnovich bt D Kasatkina 6-2 7-6, K Bertens bt F Di Lorenzo 6-2 6-1, M Keys bt B Pera 6-4 6-1, N Osaka bt J Glushko 6-2 6-0, A Sabalenka bt V Zvonareva, D Cibulkova bt H Su-wei 7-6 4-6 6-4, M Vondrousova bt E Bouchard 6-4 6-3, Aryna Sabalenka bt V Zvonareva 6-3 7-6 (9/7)