Shelton One Game from Win Before Play Halted

Shelton One Game from Win Before Play Halted \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Ben Shelton’s second-round Wimbledon match was suspended due to darkness Thursday night. Leading Rinky Hijikata 6-2, 7-5, 5-4, Shelton was about to serve for the win. The match will resume Friday on No. 2 Court, which lacks lights and a roof.

Quick Looks

• Shelton led 6-2, 7-5, 5-4 when play stopped at 9:30 p.m.
• Three match points missed at 5-3 as Hijikata fought back
• No. 2 Court lacks lighting and a roof, forcing suspension
• Match will resume Friday, with Shelton set to serve for victory
• Shelton reached Wimbledon fourth round in 2023, semifinals at 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 Australian Open

Deep Look

Rising American tennis star Ben Shelton was one game away from advancing to the third round of Wimbledon 2025 when his second-round match against Australia’s Rinky Hijikata was abruptly suspended Thursday night due to darkness. The match was being held on Court No. 2, one of the few show courts at the All England Club that lacks artificial lighting and a retractable roof, leaving organizers no choice but to halt play at 9:30 p.m. local time.

Shelton, seeded 10th and one of the breakout stars of men’s tennis over the past two years, had been in control for much of the match. He led 6-2, 7-5, 5-4 and had been on the cusp of victory just moments before the suspension. At 5-3 in the third set, Shelton held triple match point on Hijikata’s serve, reaching love-40 with an opportunity to close out the match. But Hijikata showed grit under pressure, saving all three match points and winning five straight points to stay alive, reducing the deficit to 5-4.

Shelton, known for his explosive left-handed serve and athleticism, was preparing to serve for the match when officials called off play due to insufficient light. While some of the main show courts at Wimbledon are equipped for evening play, Court 2 is not among them, and with no indoor backup available, the players had no choice but to stop and wait until Friday to resume.

For Shelton, the delay represents both a blessing and a potential challenge. While he maintains the momentum and score advantage, Grand Slam tennis has a history of emotional and mental shifts when matches carry over into the next day. Hijikata, who saved match points and left the court with renewed energy, may see the overnight pause as a lifeline.

The match will resume Friday with Shelton serving for the match, and he’ll look to close it out quickly to conserve energy for what could be a deeper run. The 22-year-old American is enjoying one of the best stretches of his young career. He broke into tennis prominence by reaching the 2023 U.S. Open semifinals and followed up with another semifinal appearance at the 2025 Australian Open. At Wimbledon last year, he reached the fourth round in his tournament debut.

Shelton’s game is especially well-suited to grass. His booming serve, combined with flat groundstrokes and willingness to come forward, gives him a clear edge on faster surfaces. Against Hijikata, he dictated play early and often, showcasing the kind of dominance expected from a top-10 seed.

Hijikata, currently ranked No. 87 in the world, has played with resilience, using his counterpunching and quick footwork to extend rallies and frustrate Shelton. The 23-year-old Australian is seeking his best-ever Wimbledon result and has shown flashes of brilliance in this match, particularly in key defensive moments.

Shelton’s path in this year’s draw has raised hopes among American tennis fans, especially with a relative drought in recent years for U.S. men in the latter stages of Wimbledon. His emergence, alongside other young stars like Sebastian Korda and Taylor Fritz, marks a resurgence for American men’s tennis at the Grand Slam level.

The Wimbledon organizers have not yet announced the exact time for the match resumption, but it is expected to be early Friday afternoon local time. With the winner likely to face a seeded opponent in the third round, finishing quickly could offer Shelton a key recovery window.

As play resumes, the big question will be whether Shelton can pick up where he left off—or whether Hijikata can use the overnight pause to turn the tide in one of the tournament’s more dramatic early encounters.

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