Alexander Zverev Faces US Open Final Criticism
Tallon Griekspoor criticized Alexander Zverev's US Open final win over Ben Shelton and his service routine.
Griekspoor's view of the final
Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton to claim the US Open title after winning Roland Garros earlier in the season. The final left Tallon Griekspoor unconvinced, as he felt the match did not deliver the drama expected from a Grand Slam final.
His verdict was blunt. Griekspoor saw Shelton struggling with the occasion in his first major final, while Zverev controlled the match without reaching an exceptional level. Zverev's second Grand Slam title in three months still marks a strong run at the sport's biggest events.
Serve and control decided it
Griekspoor identified the second-set tiebreak as the decisive passage, saying Zverev's serve gave him a reliable base when the final tightened. He felt Shelton gave away too many simple points and could not hold a consistent level over the full match.
The recent record supports Zverev's authority. Court Shark ranks him No. 3, and he has won 9 of his last 10 completed matches. His display did not win over Griekspoor, but his serving allowed him to stay in control when Shelton needed a response.
A routine Griekspoor cannot watch
Griekspoor's concerns extended beyond the rallies. He said Zverev's lengthy preparation before serves made the US Open difficult for him to follow, particularly during the later stages of the tournament.
The scale of the routine stood out. A graphic before the final recorded nearly 13,000 ball bounces across six matches, while Griekspoor described the repeated motion as extreme. He accepted that the habit appeared to help Zverev, even if it slowed the viewing experience for him.
Shelton's run and Alcaraz's exit
Ben Shelton reached the final by beating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, then defeating Frances Tiafoe in four sets. Griekspoor believed Alcaraz should have won their quarterfinal, but thought the deciding tiebreak was a poor spell from the Spaniard.
Alcaraz had not played since April because of a wrist injury. Court Shark lists him at No. 2 with an 8-2 record from his last 10 completed matches, the same recent mark as Shelton. Griekspoor interpreted Alcaraz's smile after the loss as evidence that his team had adjusted expectations for his return.
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