Ben Shelton Criticizes Tennis Rule After Zverev’s Extended Ball Bounce in US Open Final

Tennis player Ben Shelton calls for rule change after Alexander Zverev's 25-bounce serve routine in US Open final. Players frustrated by lengthy pre-serve ri...

Editorial Desk

September 14, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — Ben Shelton has called for a revision to a controversial tennis rule after being forced to wait over 30 seconds while Alexander Zverev bounced the ball up to 25 times before serving during their US Open final on Sunday.

Zverev’s extended pre-serve routine has drawn criticism from several players in recent weeks, with the German frequently taking more than 25 seconds to complete his ball-bouncing ritual before delivering his serve. Unlike the first serve, which is subject to a 25-second shot clock, there is no time limit for a second serve.

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Shelton, who lost the match 6-3 7-6 (2) 5-7 6-2, expressed frustration after an umpire instructed him to remain at the baseline in a ready position, even though he knew the serve might not come for another 30 seconds. He argued that athletes should not be required to stay in a focused stance for such long periods while waiting for their opponent to prepare.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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