Ben Shelton Annoyed as Match In opposition to Hijikata Halted As a consequence of Darkness

Ben Shelton got here agonizingly near sealing a straight-sets victory over Australia’s Rinky Hijikata within the second spherical of Wimbledon 2025. But as a substitute of celebrating a clean win, the American tennis participant has to attend one other day to complete the job.

Officials suspended the match Thursday evening on account of darkness at 9:29 p.m. native time. The play was stopped with Shelton main 6-2, 7-5, 5-4, only one recreation away from advancing.

Shelton Match Suspended

The contest was held on Wimbledon’s No. 2 Court, which has no synthetic lights and a roof that doesn’t open. With the solar setting, gentle turned a difficulty, and the sport was ultimately suspended regardless of Shelton having had a possibility to win it just some minutes prior, in line with the BBC.

The crowd let their disapproval be identified, booing loudly and singing “one more game” because the officers referred to as the match. Shelton appeared visibly distraught, having a heated change with match officers as Hijikata left the courtroom.

Tight Scheduling Adds to the Drama

Scheduling points had been the first reason for the delayed ending. Shelton and Hijikata’s match didn’t begin till after 7 p.m., after 4 earlier matches on the identical courtroom. Two of which had been lengthy males’s matches taking virtually three and two-and-a-half hours, respectively.

Both males had complained concerning the lack of sunshine earlier earlier than the final interruption, solely to be instructed by officers to play on. Ironically, Shelton did have a possibility to wrap up the match sooner within the evening. Leading 40-0 and serving for victory, he gave away 5 consecutive factors to Hijikata, enabling the Australian to carry serve and take the third set to 5-4.

One of America’s Last Hopes

Shelton, now the world No. 10, is amongst solely two American males remaining within the Wimbledon draw. The 22-year-old has established himself in a rush as one of many prime skills on the ATP tour, with a rocketing lefty serve and a hot-headed on-court demeanor.

Fans hope to see Shelton end off the win on Thursday and coast by way of to the third spherical. Instead, everybody will look towards Friday’s continuation of play, the place Shelton might be again on the courtroom with victory inside one recreation.

If Shelton can get the job performed on Friday, it will likely be one other stable efficiency in a Grand Slam match for the younger American, who continues to impress on tennis’s greatest phases. But the in a single day break might change momentum, significantly with Hijikata gaining new confidence after saving three match factors late within the third set.

For the time being, Shelton continues to be the favourite, however within the loopy world of Wimbledon, no outcome can ever be sure till the final level is hit.

Aside from the Shelton vs. Hijikata match, one other suspension hit Marton Fucsovics and Gaël Monfils’ match, in line with The Athletic.