‘Stupid Rule’ – Ben Shelton Details His Dispute With US Open Umpire Over Alexander Zverev’s Controversial Habit

Urvi Mehra Mon, September 14, 2026 at 5:07 AM UTC

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Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 13, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton of the U.S. pose for a photo at the net ahead of their final match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch

Alexander Zverev’s lengthy pre-serve routine has been a topic of contention throughout his campaign at the 2026 US Open, drawing scrutiny from players and fans alike. Following his loss in the final of the New York Major, Ben Shelton shared his candid thoughts on Zverev’s time-consuming habit, revealing how it caused a disagreement with the chair umpire.

Ben Shelton Calls for Rule Change After Alexander Zverev’s Routine Stirs Drama in US Open Final

Zverev has caught significant attention for his habit of bouncing the ball an unusually high number of times before serving. After Karen Khachanov lost to the German in the US Open semifinals, he revealed that “his ball-bouncing before the serve bothers a lot of players.”

Khachanov also explained the difficulty of preparing for the German’s serve while acknowledging that it was ultimately the umpire’s responsibility to manage the situation.

While Zverev went on to claim a 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 victory over Shelton in the blockbuster final, he did receive a time violation warning in the fourth set, with the chair umpire Marijana Veljovic urging him to be quicker during his service games.

However, Veljovic also told Shelton to get to the line quicker to receive the German’s serve. Speaking during his post-match press conference, the American expressed his disagreement with the umpire’s instruction, arguing that he should not have to be at the line for the entirety of Zverev’s pre-serve, given how long it was.

“No, 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. If he’s bouncing the ball 20 to 25 times, I shouldn’t have to just sit there for that. He should be able to start it,” Shelton said.

The 23-year-old also dismissed it as a “stupid rule,” saying, “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. As long as you’re ready when he puts his hands together and starts bouncing the ball, that’s what should matter.”

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Shelton further expressed his belief that there should be a rule change to prevent players from taking unlimited time before a second serve, acknowledging the negative impact on the viewing experience.

“I know everybody wants that to be the story. I definitely think for first serve, you should be able to do whatever you want. You can use the full 25 seconds every time. 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,” the American said.

“You shouldn’t have unlimited time. For the fans, I think it’s tough to be sitting there that long for the next play, the next action to happen,” he added. “I’m sure at some point it’ll be something that these tournaments look at just because there is such a delay in play in some matches.”

Nevertheless, Shelton denied that Zverev’s lengthy routine contributed to his exhaustion during the match.

“But no, I was tired before I took the court today. Finals of a Slam, played almost 30 sets over the last two weeks, so I wouldn’t say my tiredness had to do with standing there and waiting. Something that I can continue to work to improve, but obviously my first time that I’ve been here in this position. The most tennis that I’ve played in two weeks,” he said.

MORE:‘I Have No Idea Why’ – Alexander Zverev Addresses Karen Khachanov’s Criticism After US Open Match

Amid the discourse, Alexander Zverev addressed his lengthy routine after his semifinal win and revealed that it was not intentional, saying, “I have no idea why. I don’t do it on purpose.”

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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