Ben Shelton expresses frustration over serving rule in US Open final
Ben Shelton branded a tennis rule “stupid” after becoming embroiled in a serving-time dispute during his US Open final defeat by Alexander Zverev, reports BritPanorama.
The American’s bid to end his country’s long wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion was crushed in New York as Zverev powered to a 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 victory.
Shelton left Arthur Ashe Stadium frustrated by more than the result after chair umpire Marijana Veljovic instructed him to take up his receiving position earlier while Zverev worked through his lengthy pre-serve routine. The German consistently bounced the ball before serving throughout the tournament and was handed a time violation during the fourth set for exceeding the permitted 25 seconds.
However, Shelton insisted it was unreasonable to expect him to remain crouched and fully alert while waiting for Zverev to complete as many as 25 bounces. “There is not an athlete in the world who is going to watch them do their thing and sit in the ready position for 30 seconds before the play starts,” he said, emphasising his discomfort.
In his comments, Shelton noted that he would not delay Zverev’s delivery and called for greater common sense from officials. “I should not have to sit at the line if he is bouncing the ball 20 to 25 times,” he stated, elaborating on the absurdity he felt regarding the expectation placed on him.
Shelton also suggested that tennis authorities consider restricting the time allowed between first and second serves to prevent matches from becoming unnecessarily drawn out. Meanwhile, Zverev claimed his second Grand Slam title of 2026 and strengthened his chances of dislodging injured Jannik Sinner as world No 1 in the process.
His triumph completed a remarkable hard-court major double, having also captured the Australian Open earlier this season. Asked whether he could now call himself the world’s best player, Zverev delivered a qualified verdict, recognising the potential return of healthy competitors such as Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
“With Jannik Sinner being injured, Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, this moment, probably yes,” he said. Zverev acknowledged, however, that if all were healthy and at their top game, he might not hold that position.
In the dynamic world of tennis, where timing and strategy collide, Shelton’s frustrations illuminate a broader discussion on the rules governing play, a reminder of how even the finest athletes grapple with the regulations that shape their performance on the court.
