Wimbledon: Ben Shelton takes one minute to defeat opponent after suspended match

Ben Shelton found himself in a peculiar situation during his second-round match at the Wimbledon Championships on Thursday. Serving for the match against Rinky Hijikata, Shelton was unable to finish the game due to darkness, resulting in the suspension of the match until the following day.

Leading 6-2, 7-5, 5-4, Shelton was visibly frustrated as play was halted at 9:29 p.m. local time. Both players had expressed concerns about the conditions earlier in the match, and Shelton even had to be restrained by an official after approaching the umpire.

The match resumed early Friday morning, and it only took Shelton one minute to secure the victory and advance to the third round. Reflecting on the situation, Shelton acknowledged the challenging circumstances but remained focused on the task at hand.

“It was difficult. At that point, we kind of knew that we were playing in conditions that weren’t ideal for tennis. For me, it was like, ‘what’s one more game at that point?’” Shelton said. “I understand the tournament’s gotta make whatever decisions they make, and the players gotta live with that. For me, I live with it. I came out today, and I did what I do.”

Despite the abrupt conclusion to the match, Shelton maintained his composure and quickly shifted his focus to the next round. He expressed uncertainty about his plans for the day, considering Friday was originally meant to be a rest day for the 10th-ranked player in the world.

“It’s different. I warmed up for 30 minutes, then spent one minute on the court. A lot more time was spent in the preparation than the actual match,” Shelton remarked.

Looking ahead, Shelton is set to face Marton Focsovics of Hungary in the third round on Saturday. With his best Wimbledon finish being the fourth round last year, Shelton remains determined to make a deep run in the tournament, having previously reached the semifinals in both the Australian and U.S. Opens.

As Shelton continues his Wimbledon journey, fans eagerly anticipate his upcoming matches and hope to see him showcase his exceptional skills on the court. Stay tuned for more updates on Shelton’s performance at the prestigious tournament.