Ben Shelton, the 23-year-old American tennis player, went to the 'Gem Saloon' bar in the Murray Hill neighborhood of New York to forget his sorrow after losing in the US Open final against Alexander Zverev. Shelton, the first African American man to reach the US Open final since 1972, lost the match with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, and 6-2.
Bittersweet Loss, but Shelton Among His Fans
In an effort to overcome the pain of this loss, Shelton went to the 'Gem Saloon' bar and took photos with his fans. He appeared in the bar wearing a white t-shirt and light jeans, with a smile on his face. The 'Gem' bar wrote on Instagram: 'A special night at Gem. We were happy to welcome Ben Shelton, US Open finalist, and his guests last night at Gem Saloon! Congratulations on an amazing tournament, Ben! Thank you for choosing us to celebrate.'
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Zverev and His Victory Celebration in New York
While Shelton was enjoying himself at the bar, Zverev, who had just become the US Open champion, was celebrating at the 'Tao Downtown' club in New York. He celebrated this historic moment with his team and loved ones. In the released images, club staff held a large sign that read: 'US Open Champion Alexander Zverev' to remind guests of his achievement.
The US Open final was accompanied by controversies, as Shelton asked tennis officials to limit the time for second serves. Zverev repeatedly bounced the ball more than twelve times before serving. Currently, players have 25 seconds to start their first serve, but there is no time limit for second serves.
Zverev's habit of tossing the ball has led famous tennis players like Andy Roddick and John McEnroe to call for a change in these rules. Shelton said about this: 'I think for the first serve, every player should be able to serve whenever they want, but there should be a time limit for the second serve.'
Fans' Reactions to Zverev's Remarks
During the final, Zverev referenced Trinity Rodman, Shelton's girlfriend, in his victory speech, saying: 'Hey Trinity, I thought you had a game today? Congratulations to you too, you are a lucky charm.' These remarks received mixed reactions from fans, with some considering them offensive. Rodman, who had come to New York to watch the match, responded to these comments with laughter.
