Alexander Zverev’s unusual serving routine has become one of the talking points from the US Open 2026 final, with Ben Shelton questioning how much time players should be allowed to take before a second serve.
The World no.2 defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday to win his first US Open title. But after the final, Shelton was asked about the German’s habit of repeatedly bouncing the ball between his first and second serves.
The American made it clear that he did not believe Zverev was doing anything illegal. Instead, Shelton thinks tennis could introduce a separate limit for second serves.
What did Ben Shelton say about Zverev’s ball bounces?
Shelton believes players should have the full amount of time available before a first serve but said the same approach should not necessarily apply after a fault.
“For a first serve you should be able to do whatever you want and use the full 25 seconds every time,” Shelton said.
“There should be some sort of rule limiting time on 2nd serves. There shouldn’t be unlimited time. It’s tough to be sitting there for that long for the next action to happen.”
Ben Shelton was asked about Zverev bouncing the ball a lot between 1st and 2nd serves
“For a first serve you should be able to do whatever you want and use the full 25 seconds every time. There should be some sort of rule limiting time on 2nd serves. There shouldn’t be unlimited… pic.twitter.com/poIKNS8Grn
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 14, 2026
`The comments came after Shelton had spent much of the final watching Zverev go through his familiar routine before serving again.
Shelton’s father, Bryan Shelton, also spoke to ESPN during the final and referred to Zverev’s repeated ball tosses, saying: “Toss so many times that it throws you off.”
Durante la final de anoche, el padre de Ben Shelton habló para ESPN y dejó una perlita sobre los botes de Zverev antes de sacar.
🗣️ “Bota tantas veces que te desconcentra”
Hay que decir que Sascha no hace nada ilegal, puesto que no hay norma que regule el tiempo entre primer y… https://t.co/l8STtN610R pic.twitter.com/rhCcuelus6
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) September 14, 2026
Why does Alexander Zverev bounce the ball so many times?
Zverev has previously been asked about the number of times he bounces the ball before serving. His response was simple: he does not consciously count them or use the routine to gain an advantage.
“I have no idea why. I don’t do it on purpose,” Zverev said after his semifinal victory over Karen Khachanov.
Zverev on his ball bounces.
“I have no idea why. I don’t do it on purpose. I saw the statistic that I’ve bounced the ball around 12,000 times or something like that. It’s pretty funny. I’m not counting them in my head or trying to reach a specific number.” pic.twitter.com/IQCfv4NOYC
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 12, 2026
The German even recalled seeing a statistic showing that he had bounced the ball around 12,000 times.
“I saw the statistic that I’ve bounced the ball around 12,000 times or something like that. It’s pretty funny,” he said.
“I’m not counting them in my head or trying to reach a specific number.”
So, while the routine may look deliberate from the other side of the net, Zverev says it is simply something he does naturally before serving.
Is Zverev breaking any rules?
No. The controversy is not about Zverev committing a violation during the US Open final. The existing rules regulate the time a player has between points, but there is no separate rule specifically limiting the time taken between a first and second serve. While a 25-second countdown timer applies before a player’s first serve, that clock resets or stops once the first serve is missed. Official rules only state that the second serve must be taken “without delay”.
That is why Shelton’s suggestion is aimed at changing the rule rather than penalizing Zverev.
His argument is that a player should not have effectively unlimited time to reset after missing a first serve.
For now, however, Zverev’s ball-bouncing routine remains legal. And after winning his first US Open title, the German has little reason to change a ritual that has become such a familiar part of his serve.
