Andy Roddick Demands Major Rule Change Over Alexander Zverev’s Bizarre Routine at US Open

Key Points:

• Alexander Zverev's prolonged service routine at the US Open, involving excessive ball bouncing, has sparked debate about tennis' serve-clock rules, with former World No. 1 Andy Roddick calling for stricter regulations, especially on the second serve timing.
• Current rules allow 25 seconds between points but only require the second serve to be struck "without delay" after a fault, leaving umpire discretion on time violations; Zverev received a time violation in his semifinal match against Karen Khachanov.
• Roddick criticizes players being allowed to catch and redo an imperfect toss, arguing the toss is part of the serve and should be treated as a skill without do-overs, aiming to reduce time-wasting during serves.
• Despite Khachanov's frustration, Zverev defends his routine as normal, but prolonged serving can disrupt opponents' rhythm, prompting calls for rule changes to enhance fairness and match flow.
• Roddick also highlighted Ben Shelton's recent improvement in backhand stability during his wins over Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz, potentially giving Shelton an advantage in the upcoming final against Zverev.