US Open umpire caused a controversy when he offered words of encouragement to Nick Kyrgios after the star appeared to stop trying

ESPN

• A chair umpire at the U.S. Open appeared to give Nick Kyrgios words of encouragement after he stopped trying on his way to losing the first set of a match.
• After what some have called a "pep talk," Kyrgios went on to win the second and third sets.
• Many in the tennis world raised their eyebrows at the exchange and criticized the umpire for speaking to a player directly.

A bizarre scene unfolded at the U.S. Open on Thursday during a second-round match between 30th-ranked Nick Kyrgios and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The occasionally temperamental Kyrgios appeared to stop trying during the first set, failing to even move while Herbert served. Herbert won the set, 6-4.

After the set was over, the umpire, Mo Lahyani, got off the chair and went over to Kyrgios, appearing to offer him words of encouragement.

According to tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg, Lahyani could be heard saying things like "I want to help you," "You're great for tennis," and "I know this is not you."

Singles tennis is just that - players don't receive outside help. It's unusual to see an umpire address a player without doing so through the microphone.

Here are the plays that preceded what some are calling a pep talk where Kyrgios stopped trying:

And the discussion between Lahyani and Kyrgios:

As Rothenberg reported, a U.S. Tennis Association rep was looking into Lahyani's conduct.

Plenty of others in the tennis world raised their eyebrows or flatly criticized Lahyani for his actions, including Rothenberg, who called it "insane" and called for Lahyani to be pulled from the match.

Importantly, Kyrgios won the second set 7-6 and the third set 6-3.

If Kyrgios holds onto the match, there will certainly be an uproar about Lahyani's conduct.