Tennis fans at Wimbledon witnessed a rare scene on the morning of July 4, 2025, as Ben Shelton needed just 65 seconds to finish off Rinky Hijikata in a match suspended overnight. The quick conclusion capped a dramatic two-day affair and set the stage for a memorable moment both on and off the court.
Shelton, currently ranked in the world’s top 10, was serving for the match at 6-2, 7-5, 5-4 when officials halted play the previous night. When he returned to the court, Shelton needed only four points, three aces, to secure his spot in the third round.
Trinity Rodman’s Instagram Story Captures the Unusual Finish
Trinity Rodman, the 22-year-old soccer star and daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, was quick to react on Instagram. She shared her support for Shelton with a playful story. Her caption read, “Nothing like a 2 minute long match…congrats Benny,” followed by a laughing emoji, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
Rodman, who has been dating Shelton since March 2025, was at Wimbledon to cheer on her boyfriend. The couple made their relationship public on Instagram earlier this year, drawing congratulations from tennis stars like Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe.
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Ben Shelton’s Dramatic Second Round at Wimbledon 2025
The drama started on Thursday evening when Shelton was just four points away from a straight-sets win over Hijikata. Leading 6-2, 7-5, 5-4, and serving for the match, he was forced to stop when officials suspended play due to fading light. The decision came after both players had discussed stopping earlier but were instructed to keep going.
Shelton’s frustration was understandable. He had held three match points at 5-3, love-40 on Hijikata’s serve, only for the Australian to save them all and win five straight points to extend the match. The abrupt suspension meant Shelton had to return the next day to finish what should have been a routine victory.
When play resumed on Friday afternoon, Shelton wasted no time. After a brief warm-up, he opened with a 141 mph ace. His second serve drew a mishit from Hijikata, and two more aces at 140 mph and 118 mph sealed the win in just 65 seconds.
Shelton joked with the crowd afterward, saying, “I’m sorry that you guys didn’t really get to see much tennis.”
Shelton d. Hijikata 6-2 7-5 6-4
Ben was up 5-4 serving for the match yesterday when the match was suspended due to darkness.
Literally came back today to play one game today.
4 points. Less than a minute.
Tennis… no other sport like it.
✅2nd Wimbledon R3
Big Ben handling… pic.twitter.com/PLWc39xkAg
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 4, 2025
The victory sends Shelton into the third round, where he will face Márton Fucsovics on Saturday. The unusual finish highlights the unpredictable nature of tennis scheduling and the importance of mental toughness when matches are interrupted.
Ben Shelton after beating Hijikata at Wimbledon
“For me, very different playing over two days and coming out for whatever that was.. 55 seconds today. 😂 I was hoping to maybe hit a few groundstrokes today. Might have to go to the practice courts.” 😭
“I’m sorry you guys didn’t… pic.twitter.com/lkLMjWh8Ez
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 4, 2025
Shelton’s quick finish, combined with Rodman’s social media reaction, made for a memorable moment at Wimbledon. The match serves as a reminder of the unique challenges and surprises that make tennis such a compelling sport for fans and players alike.
