Ben Shelton was visibly frustrated when his second-round match at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships was abruptly suspended. The American was about to serve for the match and promptly approached the umpire to express his displeasure with the decision. So here’s what all happened.
What Happened Between Ben Shelton and Officials in the Wimbledon Second Round?
Shelton faced Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the second round on Thursday, Jul. 3, and looked dominant from the outset. Shelton, seeded 10th, convincingly won the first set 6-2 and, despite some resistance in the second, took it 7-5, putting him just one set away from securing a place in the third round.
The 22-year-old was close to sealing the win as he prepared to serve at 5-4 in the third set. However, at 9:29 p.m. local time, a sudden announcement from the umpire drew loud jeers from the crowd and left Shelton visibly frustrated.
‘Ladies and gentleman, play is suspended due to darkness,’ the chair umpire said.
Yo @Wimbledon that’s just embarrassing.
You spend 30 mins talking about whether or not to keep playing. You ultimately start the third set. And you let them play all the way until 5-4, and right when Ben Shelton is about to serve for the match, that’s when you call it.
Pathetic pic.twitter.com/rG34Jh61Ow
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) July 3, 2025
Just before play was halted, Shelton let three match points slip on Hijikata’s serve. Frustrated, the American approached the chair umpire, but an official intervened and directed him away.
It’s worth noting that Shelton had raised the possibility of a suspension with the chair umpire before the start of the third set, citing slippery conditions at the back of the court. American commentators also confirmed that his concern was not about visibility or darkness, but the slick surface. However, the umpire believed the players could finish the match, so play continued until Shelton led 5-4 in the third set. The abrupt suspension that followed only added to his frustration.
Ben Shelton Opened Up Just Moments After the Wimbledon Incident
The decision pushed the conclusion of the match to the following day, Friday, meaning Shelton will have relatively little recovery time before his potential third-round clash. After the suspension, the American addressed the incident on his Instagram.
“They ain’t wanna see anything else from me tonight but I’ll see yall tomorrow,” he captioned.
View this post on Instagram
Nonetheless, Shelton composed himself and acknowledged the crowd with a positive gesture as he left Court 2 at the All England Club. If he wins on Friday, he will face either Gaël Monfils or Márton Fucsovics in the third round. Notably, their match was also suspended due to darkness.
