Ben Shelton fumes after Wimbledon match gets delayed — one game away from win
The American was leading 5-4 in the third set when play was suspended due to bad lighting at 9:29 local time, sending him into a rage, which the ESPN broadcasters described as 'understandable,' and he charged toward the chair ump.
Another official walked in front of him to try and calm him down, but Shelton continued to angrily react to a second official as he was putting his racquet in his bag and preparing to walk back to the locker room.
Advertisement
3 Ben Shelton during his match at Wimbledon.
Before he walked off the court, Shelton received a loud ovation watching on No. 2 court.
Advertisement
Shelton will have to return on Friday to finish the match, taking away a chance for a full rest day for the 10th seed.
3 Ben Shelton of the United States speaks with officials after play was suspended due to darkness against Rinky Hijikata of Australia during the Gentlemen's Singles second round match on day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2025 in London, England.
Getty Images
He had been leading after taking the first two sets, 6-2, 7-5.
Both Shelton and Hijikata made separate pleas to officials to suspend the match more than 30 minutes before play was actually stopped, the ESPN broadcast stated.
Advertisement
Broadcasters fumed, with analyst James Blake ripping the decision.
3 Ben Shelton of the United States gestures to the crowd after play was suspended due to darkness against Rinky Hijikata of Australia during the Gentlemen's Singles second round match on day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2025 in London, England.
Getty Images
'A bad decision forced another bad decision,' he said. 'They could've stopped at the end of the second set or at 4-2. Either one of those would have been a better decision.'
No. 2 court does not have a roof or artificial lights and in a statement to The Athletic, a spokesperson said that 'due to poor light it was not possible to continue and not an option to move to another court.'
Advertisement
Shelton is looking for his first career Grand Slam win, one year after he made the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
8 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Eagles are still waiting for their Super Bowl LIX rings
For a team with aspirations to win a second Super Bowl in a row, it's important to turn the page on the first one. The Eagles are still waiting to do that. Nearly a month after the initial date for getting their championship rings, the Eagles are still waiting for the most coveted piece of jewelry in American sports. The rings were supposed to be distributed on June 6. The event was postponed due to production issues, and there has been no news on when it will happen. (We asked the team on Friday for an update, but got no response. Which is fine, since it was July 4.) At this point, the ring ceremony likely won't happen until the team has gathered for training camp. When coach Nick Sirianni is hoping to have the team focused fully on the task at hand, and not navel gazing over last year's accomplishments. While they deserve to properly celebrate getting to the top of the NFL's mountain, they're about to retreat to the Valley of 0-0. Along with 31 other teams, all of which will be trying to do what the Eagles have done — and which will be using the Eagles as the ultimate measuring stick. Every week, the Eagles will get the A+ game from each opponent. While they're talented enough to do it again, it will take full focus and commitment and concentration. Which means that, no, it's not ideal for the players to be getting their Super Bowl LIX rings once the climb toward Super Bowl LX has officially begun.
USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Jon Anik: There would be value if UFC could 'shave the schedule down'
If Jon Anik wielded any power among the UFC brass, which he emphatically notes he does not, he could see the upside to a lighter event schedule The UFC has spent more than a decade running an annual circuit of 41-43 shows per yer. It is a dream scenario for the hardcore fan, but perhaps for those within the industry and casual followers of the sport, there are some negative attachments. Lead UFC play-by-play man Anik understands there is a loaded UFC roster of more than 600 athletes who need contractual obligations filled. However, if he could magically snap his fingers and make an adjustment to the UFC product, he ponders the potentially positive ramifications of slowing down the relentless grind of shows. "I certainly think that if somehow there were a world in which we weren't serving a million masters and we could shave the schedule down from, say, 40 live events to 30 and add that depth to the fight cards, I think that would be something that would be of value," Anik told MMA Junkie on the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. "I do think we ask a lot of our fans for seven, eight hours a night, 41 Saturday nights a year, so I think making the live events a little bit more ingestible (could be beneficial). But they didn't become the combat sports leader by taking advice from me, so I think they're doing just OK." The UFC schedule could potentially see alterations in 2026. The current U.S. television rights agreement with ESPN expires this year, and the UFC could either renew entirely, partially re-sign with ESPN or take its product to one or multiple potential new bidders such as Netflix, Amazon and more.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Diogo Jota's heartbroken wife Rute Cardoso breaks down while helping carry coffin at funeral
The wife of late Portuguese soccer star Diogo Jota broke down while carrying his coffin after his funeral mass Saturday at Igreja Matriz church in Gondomar, Portugal, following his tragic death in a fiery car crash earlier this week. Rute Cardoso was emotional while helping pallbearers Saturday, appearing to cry and lowering her head while they carried the ex-Liverpool standout's coffin after the mass for Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, who also perished in the wreck that occurred just after midnight Thursday in Spain. 6 Cardoso is emotional while helping carry the coffin. REUTERS Advertisement 6 Cardoso buries her head while helping carry her husband's coffin. Getty Images Jota was 28 years old and Silva, a fellow soccer player, was 25. The siblings lost their lives when the Lamborghini they were driving veered off the road and burst into flames, investigators said. Advertisement It is unclear who was behind the wheel. The horrific incident occurred just weeks after Jota and Cardoso, his partner of 10 years, tied the knot on June 22. They share three young children. 'A day we will never forget,' Jota captioned a joint Instagram post with Cardoso. Advertisement In the weeks leading up to his big day with Cardoso, Jota helped Portugal win the Nations League with a 5-3 triumph over Spain on June 8. 'I extend my deepest condolences to their family,' Portugal Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said. 'It is a sad day for soccer and for national and international sports.' 6 Rute Cardoso walks with her late husband's coffin. Getty Images Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal. Advertisement He suited up for Liverpool since 2020, scoring 65 goals across 182 appearances. 6 Cardoso (white outfit) with the coffin on Saturday. Getty Images 'Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,' the club said in a statement. The team added it requests 'the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.' Liverpool's captain, Virgil van Dijk, posted an emotional tribute to Jota on Instagram, calling him 'a champion forever.' 6 Cardoso and the pallbearers Saturday. AP 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man,' he wrote. 'You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family.' Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, teammate Andrew Robertson and manager Arne Slot were among those from Liverpool who attended Saturday's funeral in Jota's hometown. Advertisement 6 Cardoso hugs someone on the day of the funeral. REUTERS The Liverpool captain had a red floral arrangement in the form of a soccer jersey with Jota's No. 20 in white, while Robertson had a No. 30 version for Silva, per the Associated Press. Team Portugal's Rúben Neves served as a pallbearer, while fellow national team member João Cancelo and others also attended the funeral, per the report. Advertisement Hundreds of people reportedly paid their respects at the funeral. 'These are really, really sad days, as you can imagine,' Team Portugal manager Roberto Martínez said, per the AP. 'But today we showed we are a large, close family. … Their spirit will be with us forever.'
