Zverev Serving Routine Controversy
Karen Khachanov Criticizes Alexander Zverev's Lengthy US Open Pre-Serve Routine
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Key Points
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Khachanov had very few chances on Zverev’s serve, earning only two break points throughout the match and converting one.
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The serving routine became a major social-media topic: fan counts estimated 12,040 pre-serve bounces across Zverev’s first five matches, although the figure was not an audited tournament statistic. Reports said he typically bounced the ball 18 or 19 times, with some points reaching about 25 bounces.
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Zverev said he was not deliberately aiming for a particular number of bounces, telling reporters, “I’m not counting in my head. I’m not getting a certain number or anything like that.”
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Khachanov’s defeat left him 0-3 in Grand Slam semifinals, despite reaching the final four after entering the tournament ranked No. 50 in the world.
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Zverev’s victory made him a six-time Grand Slam finalist, following his recent Roland Garros triumph.
Alexander Zverev's extended pre-serve ball-bouncing routine frustrated Karen Khachanov enough to publicly criticize it after losing 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) in the US Open semifinal Athlon Sports. Khachanov said the unpredictable bouncing disrupts returners' timing and forces them to reset repeatedly, but acknowledged that Zverev stays within time limits and that enforcing those limits falls to the chair umpire, not opponents Express.
Zverev's Bounce Count Becomes Social Media Spectacle
Fans at the US Open obsessively counted Zverev's pre-serve bounces throughout the tournament The Independent. Estimates put his routine at 18 or 19 bounces on average, with some points reaching about 25 bounces. One social-media tally claimed 12,040 total bounces across his first five matches, though this figure was not an official tournament statistic Athlon Sports.
Zverev pushed back against the fixation, telling reporters he wasn't deliberately targeting a specific number AOL. "I'm not counting in my head," he said. "I'm not getting a certain number or anything like that." Despite his denial, the routine became a lightning rod for crowd complaints about slow play at Flushing Meadows The Independent.
Khachanov's Rare Chances Slip Away Against Zverev
Khachanov earned only two break points across the entire match against Zverev Athlon Sports. He converted one of those opportunities, but it proved insufficient to close the gap in the two final tiebreaks. Zverev's first-serve effectiveness and overall serving strength proved decisive in the 2-hour-56-minute semifinal Express.
Khachanov Remains Winless in Grand Slam Semifinals
The loss marked Khachanov's third Grand Slam semifinal appearance without reaching a final Athlon Sports. He arrived at the US Open ranked No. 50 in the world after a difficult American summer but fought his way to the final four. Despite the defeat, Khachanov viewed the run positively as a career milestone Express.
Zverev Reaches Sixth Grand Slam Final After Roland Garros Win
Zverev's semifinal victory advances him to a sixth Grand Slam final AOL. The German's recent Roland Garros triumph has propelled him into Grand Slam contention once again. He now faces 23-year-old Ben Shelton in the men's singles final AOL.
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