Wimbledon Suspends Ben Shelton Match at Crucial Moment Over Darkness

Ben Shelton's second-round Wimbledon match against Rinky Hijikata was controversially suspended due to fading light just as Shelton was about to serve for the match at 5-4 in the third set. The decision sparked frustration from Shelton, who had approached officials earlier to request a halt due to darkness and slippery conditions but was told to continue playing, leading to criticism from commentators and tennis legend Boris Becker, who questioned why the match was not stopped sooner when both players were willing. The crowd booed the suspension, and Shelton vocally confronted umpire Nacho Forcadell and tournament supervisor Ali Nili before leaving the court, with the match set to resume the following day. ESPN broadcasters and former player James Blake expressed disbelief over the timing of the suspension, suggesting the match should have been halted earlier to avoid disrupting Shelton’s momentum. Shelton, the highest remaining American seed, had not been broken during the match and had a strong serving record, making the suspension particularly contentious. This incident follows a similar controversy involving fellow American Taylor Fritz, highlighting ongoing criticism of Wimbledon's handling of play suspensions due to light conditions.