Following his triumph at the US Open, Alexander Zverev has drawn sharp criticism from tennis great Boris Becker regarding his pre-service routine, even as the German icon backs his compatriot to eventually claim the world number one ranking.
Boris Becker Calls for Serve Clock Revision Over Zverev’s Bounce Routine
Alexander Zverev’s deep run at Flushing Meadows brought his meticulous service habits back into the spotlight. According to remarks made by six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker on a joint podcast with Andrea Petkovic, the German player’s prolonged ball-bouncing before his second serve requires immediate intervention from tennis governing bodies. While players face a strict 25-second shot clock for their first serves once the chair umpire announces the score, no equivalent time limit currently restricts the buildup to a second serve.
“One criticism I have of Sascha Zverev, just one. This eternal ball bouncing before the second serve, please,” Becker stated on the podcast. “We urgently need a rule change regarding how much time the player has before the second serve.” Becker added that the repetitive bouncing during television broadcasts caused him considerable anxiety in the commentary booth, noting that he frequently found himself wondering when the service motion would finally begin.
Growing Frustration Among Competitors on Tour
Becker is not alone in his assessment of the lengthy pauses. During the tournament in New York, Zverev’s opponents and peers voiced similar frustrations with the pacing of his service games. Russian player Karen Chatschanow raised complaints about the routine during their encounters, while American finalist Ben Shelton similarly advocated for a tightening of regulations regarding second-serve delays following the championship match.
Despite the criticism directed at his pacing, Zverev’s overall performance at major tournaments earned high praise from his predecessor. Becker highlighted the historic nature of winning multiple majors in a single calendar year, pointing to Zverev’s earlier victory at the French Open roughly three months prior.
The Race for the World Number One Ranking
With his recent Grand Slam success, Zverev has significantly narrowed the gap at the top of the men’s professional rankings. The point differential separating him from current world number one Jannik Sinner—who missed the US Open due to injury—shrank from more than 5.000 to 1.810 points. Furthermore, Zverev holds the lead in the year-to-date race, placing him in a strong position as Sinner faces a heavier burden of defending ranking points in upcoming autumn tournaments.
Becker dismissed external skepticism suggesting that Zverev’s title run was merely a byproduct of favorable draws or key absences, such as Sinner’s injury and Carlos Alcaraz’s recent return from a lengthy layoff. “He can only ever beat the opponent he has to face on the court,” Becker remarked, describing dismissive commentary regarding the victory as lacking respect for the player’s athletic achievement.
Road Ahead to the ATP Finals in Turin
Looking forward, Becker expressed confidence that the Hamburg native can capitalize on his momentum heading into the season’s closing stretch. The primary checkpoint on the tennis calendar shifts toward the indoor hard-court swing, culminating at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, scheduled for mid-November. With ranking points tightly contested at the top of the tour, Zverev enters the final months of the season with a clear mathematical path to challenge for the year-end summit.
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