The curtains have closed on another thrilling US Open, culminating a fortnight of intense competition in New York. The final matches saw Elena Rybakina claim the women’s singles title and Alexander Zverev secure the men’s championship. Rybakina’s victory over Aryna Sabalenka mirrored their Australian Open final, with Rybakina set to ascend to the WTA’s top ranking, displacing Sabalenka.
Zverev Secures Men’s Title, Offers Apology
Alexander Zverev emerged victorious in the men’s final, overcoming American hopeful Ben Shelton in a hard-fought four-set match. Zverev established an early lead, winning the first two sets. Shelton mounted a comeback by clinching the third set, but Zverev regained control to seal his second Grand Slam title. Immediately following his win, Zverev addressed the tournament director, Eric Butorac, and the New York crowd with a conciliatory message.
“Eric, first year as a tournament director, congratulations to you for putting up such an amazing event,” Zverev stated during his on-court interview. “I’m sorry it’s the wrong winner this year! I did my job but thank you very much, you did amazing. The crowd, I know that today 99.9 per cent of people wanted Ben to win so I’m very sorry, first of all. But second, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in. Even though I know the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair. We as players appreciate it. You guys brought the energy and the noise and we really thank you guys for that.”
Zverev acknowledged the strong home support for his opponent and expressed gratitude for the fair play exhibited by the spectators, despite their clear preference for an American champion.
Shelton Calls for Second Serve Rule Change
Following his final appearance, Ben Shelton advocated for the introduction of a shot clock specifically for second serves. Shelton indicated that Zverev’s deliberate service routine, which involved extensive ball bouncing and preparation, disrupted his rhythm during the match. Zverev had received multiple time violation warnings in earlier rounds for similar practices, drawing attention to the pace of play.
“I think that there should be some sort of rule,” Shelton commented in his post-match press conference. “I’m not sure exactly how you would do it, limiting time on second serve. You shouldn’t have unlimited time. I think it’s, for our sport, for the fans, I think it’s tough to be sitting there that long for the next play, the next action to happen. I’m sure at some point it will be something that these tournaments look at just because there is such a delay in play, you know, in some matches.”
The American player suggested that implementing a time limit on second serves could enhance the spectator experience and maintain a more consistent flow of play throughout matches.
McEnroe Faces Criticism for Post-Match Remarks
Tennis legend John McEnroe found himself at the center of online criticism after making a comment that some fans perceived as disrespectful to Alexander Zverev following his US Open victory. While concluding his commentary duties for ESPN, McEnroe offered his well wishes to top players Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, stating, “Get well soon, Carlos and Jannik.”
This remark sparked a backlash on social media platforms, with numerous users interpreting it as an oversight or dismissal of Zverev’s championship win. Critics argued that it was an inappropriate moment to seemingly overlook the newly crowned US Open champion. Reactions on X, formerly Twitter, included sentiments such as “You may like or dislike Alexander Zverev, but it wasn’t the best moment to make that comment,” and “McEnroe a sore US loser right there! Arrogant as Shelly.” Another user described the comment as “Unbelievably disrespectful.” The sentiment among critics was that McEnroe’s focus on other players diminished the significance of Zverev’s achievement.
Conclusion of the US Open
The 2023 US Open concluded with the crowning of its singles champions, Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev. The tournament provided significant storylines beyond the finals, including player conduct, calls for rule adjustments, and commentary controversies. As the tennis world looks ahead, discussions surrounding service pace and player recognition continue, underscoring the dynamic nature of professional tennis.
