Ben Shelton Calls for Tennis Rule Change After US Open Loss

Ben Shelton, at 23 years old, reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, becoming the first Black American man to do so since Arthur Ashe in 1972. He lost the final to Alexander Zverev with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2.

Following the match, Shelton voiced his concerns about the current tennis regulations regarding the time between serves, particularly criticizing Zverev's habit of bouncing the ball excessively before serving. Shelton argued that the existing rules do not adequately address the receiver's position during this time, stating, “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 suggested that tennis authorities should explore implementing a rule to limit the time allowed for a second serve. Shelton's complaints gained significance as other players, including Karen Khachanov, had previously expressed similar frustrations regarding Zverev's serving routine during the tournament.