Boom! Rinky's Wimbledon comeback dream blasted in 55sec
Hijikata had got the unexpected chance to live to fight another day after saving three match points and then being reprieved by a controversial postponement of play on Thursday night amid farcical scenes as darkness descended.
But when the match resumed on No.2 Court in the Friday afternoon sunshine with No.10 seed Shelton serving for the match, everyone could see the funny side once he won all four points in just 55 seconds, including three booming aces, to complete the straightforward 6-2 7-5 6-3 victory in two hours 12 minutes.
Sydneysider Hijikata, who had been unable to dent the two-time grand semi-finalist's delivery all match, couldn't help but grin ruefully as any chance of him becoming the fourth Australian to qualify for the third round alongside Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Daria Kasatkina was blasted away.
Shelton's four unreturnable serves were timed at 141mph (ace), 107mph, 140mph (ace) and 118mph (ace) as he was left all smiles as opposed to the previous night when he had been raging over Spanish chair umpire Nacho Forcadell calling off play just when he was about to step up and issue the coup de grace.
In the previous game, Hijikata had been 0-40 and three match points down on his own serve but the world No.87 then won the five next points to stay in the hunt.
By that time it was 9.30pm and had become so dark on a court without floodlighting that Forcadell insisted he had to call a suspension.
Shelton was furious, and the courtside supervisor stepped in quickly amid his complaints. Meanwhile, Hijikata had already swiftly sped away to complete his great escape.
The most ridiculous aspect of the affair had been that after he had taken his two-set lead at 8.40pm, the dominant Shelton had already queried with Forcadell whether there was enough time to complete the match.
The 22-year-old American also pointed out it was beginning to be slippery at the back of the court and seemed as if he would have been happy for the match to be postponed at that point.
Hijikata, perhaps playing for time, had meanwhile disappeared for a strategic comfort break and when the 24-year-old Australian returned, he didn't seem overly enthused about them playing on.
Indeed, after slipping on the grass at 1-3 down, he pointedly told Forcadell: "No mate, you're not the one out there running and moving."
Ultimately, though, there was no way back on Friday as Shelton ruthlessly booked his third round date with Hungarian 'lucky loser' Marton Fucsovics, who also completed victory in a resumed contest, knocking out crowd favourite Gael Monfils 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
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