The 2026 US Open has set up an exciting men’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev will face 23-year-old Ben Shelton for the final Grand Slam title of the season.
However, after his semifinal win over Karen Khachanov, Zverev’s on-court antics before the serve became a talking point, with Khachanov making it clear that some of them did not sit well with him.
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Zverev’s habit of bouncing the ball several times before serving has raised eyebrows during recent tournaments. Broadcasters have even started tracking how many times Zverev bounces the ball before serving, turning the habit into a running joke online.
However, it’s not fun for the opponents who wait to receive. After the semifinal loss, Khachanov explained how Zverev’s repeated ball bouncing can affect the other player’s physical and mental preparation.
“His ball-bouncing before the serve bothers a lot of players,” Khachanov said. “He takes a long time. You prepare yourself, then he bounces the ball another 12 times, so you have to prepare and split-step again almost every point.”
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The Russian added that it is ultimately up to the officials to make sure Zverev follows the time rules. “If he’s within the time limit, there’s nothing I can say. If he’s going over the time limit, then he should get a warning. But it’s the chair umpire’s responsibility to monitor that, not mine.”
