Zverev Targets Less Ball-Bouncing for Fairer Tennis Play

German tennis star Alexander Zverev is actively working to curb his long-standing habit of excessive ball-bouncing before serving, a move aimed at improving his overall game and ensuring fairness on the court. This dedication to refining his technique comes even after a successful run to his inaugural US Open championship last month, a period during which his repetitive pre-serve ritual and tendency to let the serve clock run down drew considerable criticism.

Currently participating in the Rolex Shanghai Masters, the 29-year-old athlete has already begun implementing these changes. Following his decisive 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alex de Minaur, which secured his spot in his 11th semifinal of the season, Zverev confirmed to the media in Shanghai that he is consciously reducing the number of ball bounces compared to his performance in New York. He also indicated plans for further reductions in this routine, which has reportedly annoyed some of his opponents.

Zverev explained his efforts, stating, “I just go when it feels right. But if you noticed, I am doing it less than I did in New York. I think it was going to an extreme for me in New York. I was not aware of it because my phone was off, I didn’t see social media and all that. I was only aware of it after, and I’m trying to work on it, for sure.”

It is worth noting that Zverev is not unique in this particular habit; tennis legends such as Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors and Grand Slam record-holder Novak Djokovic have also been known for phases of deliberate ball-dribbling before their serves. For Zverev, however, the motivation to minimize his ball-bouncing stems from a desire to eliminate distractions for his opponents and uphold the integrity of the game.

He further elaborated on his reasoning, saying, “You know, there’s certain things that I feel like have to do with fairness of the game. And not distracting your opponent, and if I’m doing something that my opponents feel like I distract them, I don’t want to do it. I want to win with tennis, that’s what I do.” The article was originally published on Thursday, October 15, 2026.