Ben Shelton Calls Out ‘Stupid Rule’ After Alexander Zverev’s Controversial Ball-Bouncing Habit During US Open Final

Now Ben Shelton made his feelings known about Alexander Zverev‘s ball-bouncing routine after his defeat in the US Open final. Shelton couldn’t end the American men’s Grand Slam title drought, losing in four sets, with the win making Zverev a second-time champion at this level.

After losing to Sascha in the semifinals, Karen Khachanov said the first seed’s serving routine not only annoys him but also other opponents. Zverev bounces the ball quite a few times on second serve. During the final, the chair umpire Marijana Veljovic instructed Shelton to remain in receiving posture while Zverev was bouncing the ball.

She was telling me I need to get to the line earlier, and I was like, ‘He can start his routine whenever he wants. I promise you there will never be a time where he serves and I’m not ready’. But I shouldn’t have to sit at the line — you know, if he’s bouncing the ball 20 to 25 times, I shouldn’t have to just sit there for that.

The 25-second shot clock rule only applies to the first serve. There’s no such rule for the second serve. Shelton urged the tennis authorities to change this rule, calling it “stupid”.

He should be able to start it. He never does less than 10 bounces. I’m always going to be ready when he’s ready to serve. I think that is a stupid rule that you got to be sitting there if it’s a guy who has his routine. You know, as long as you’re ready when he puts his hands together and starts bouncing the ball, that’s what should matter.

Ben Shelton added

It was Shelton’s sixth consecutive defeat at the hands of the now two-time Grand Slam champion. Zverev played three finals this season, winning the French Open and the US Open, which marks the first time since Andre Agassi in 1999 that a player not named Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, or Carlos Alcaraz has won multiple Grand Slam titles in a calendar year.

Ben Shelton on the experience of playing in a Grand Slam final

Ben Shelton had made just two semifinals in Majors before competing in this US Open final. In the semifinals, he beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe and became the second American man since Andy Roddick‘s 2003 US Open win to reach a Major final (after Taylor Fritz‘s run at the 2024 US Open). At the press conference after his defeat, the 23-year-old was asked how this “Sunday feel different than other Sundays in the past.“

That’s such a cool moment. Walking out on that court today, there’s nothing like it. I’ve never felt anything like that before. It’s an addicting feeling being in positions like this. Obviously, for me it sucked the last couple Grand Slams, sitting at home for 10, 11, 12 days while the tournament’s still going on, watching everyone else run through the draw.

Shelton was chasing his fifth title of the season, after wins in Dallas, Stuttgart, Munich, and Montreal. Zverev won his second title of the season after the French Open.

He has so far played four finals this season, losing the other two finals to Jannik Sinner in Madrid and Wimbledon. Zverev will be ending the season with more Majors than Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (won the Australian Open).

Sinner did not compete in New York as he is recovering from a knee injury. Alcaraz made his comeback in this tournament following a long injury hiatus, but his title defense ended at the hands of Shelton in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Alexander Zverev Responds to Hilarious Score Confusion on Match Point After Winning the US Open