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Nick Kyrgios defends US Open umpire Mohamed Lahyani after controversial pep talk

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Kyrgios defended Lahyani (Picture: Getty Images)

Nick Kyrgios denied that he received coaching from chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani during his second-round win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The Australian was a set and a break down to his French opponent when the umpire made the curious move to hop down from his chair to kneel in front of the 30th seed and offer him some words of wisdom.

Lahyanis actions were widely questioned but Kyrgios believed it had no effect on the outcome and claimed that he wasnt really listening to him.

Its ridiculous. He wasnt coaching me at all, the 23-year-old said. I mean, like, I dont have a coach. I havent had a coach for, like, years. Of course he wasnt coaching me.

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You know, the same thing happen to me, its happened in Shanghai before when we all know I had that moment in Shanghai where the referee said the same thing, Its not good for the integrity of the sport, doesnt have a good look.

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It had not effect at all. I was 3-Love down, 5-2 down. Obviously, didnt help at all.

Im not sure it was encouragement. He said he liked me. Im not sure if that was encouragement. He just said that its not a good look.

Federer is up next for the Aussie (Picture: Anadolu Agency/Getty)

I wasnt feeling good. I know what I was doing out there wasnt good. I wasnt really listening to him, but I knew it wasnt a good look. It didnt help me at all. Like, I was down 5-2. If it was 3-0, and maybe if I would have come back and won six games in a row, fair enough. Didnt help me at all.

Kyrgios also expressed his hope that the umpire does not face any serious action for his conduct.

I dont believe that he deserves it, he added. I mean, the umpire in Shanghai didnt cop any backlash. It happened to me in Cincinnati two weeks ago against [Juan Martin] Del Potro, the exact same thing happened. I wasnt putting forth my best performance.

I did the same today. The umpire was like, Nick, you cant be doing this. Its a bad look. Same thing happened there.

Id be disappointed, yeah, for sure.

The Australian will go on to face Roger Federer in the third round.