Shelton calls for service rule change after US Open final defeat

Women’s Tennis / 13 September 2026 Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka with her first US Open crown 13 September 2026 Men’s Football / 13 September 2026 Liverpool's stuttering start continues with goalless Fulham draw 13 September 2026 Men’s Football / 13 September 2026 Ipswich net late winner against 10-man Palace 13 September 2026 Men’s Football / 13 September 2026 West Ham thrash Wrexham to extend winning run 13 September 2026 BEATEN US Open finalist Ben Shelton has called for a change to a “stupid” rule after being told he had to stand in position while Alexander Zverev bounces the ball.

Zverev’s service routine has irked a number of players this fortnight, with the German bouncing the ball up to 25 times before starting his serving motion.

While there is a 25-second rule for a first serve, there is none for a second serve.

Shelton was annoyed at being told by umpire Marijana Veljovic that he should be standing on the line ready to recieve, even though the serve might not come for another 30 seconds.

“I think there’s not an athlete in the world that you’re going to watch them do their thing and they’re going to sit in a ready position for 30 seconds before the play starts,” said the 23-year-old American.

“So for me it’s the same. I’m not going to sit there in a ready position with my knees bent, tension in my body for 30 seconds while I’m waiting.

“I’m going to try to stay loose, and you know, I’ll let him do his thing when he’s up there, but I’m not going to sit there, be locked in, focused, in a ready position for that long.

“(The umpire) 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. If he’s bouncing the ball 20 to 25 times, I shouldn’t have to just sit there for that.

“I think that there should be some sort of rule. I’m not sure exactly how you would do it, limiting time on second serve.”

German top seed Zverev, 29, extinguished the US’s hopes of a first male winner since Andy Roddick in 2003 with a 6-3 7-6 (2) 5-7 6-2 victory.