Ben Shelton advanced to the third round at Wimbledon 2025 in remarkable fashion, needing just 71 seconds to complete his suspended second-round match against Rinky Hijikata. The match was halted the previous night due to fading light, with Shelton already leading 6-2, 7-5, 5-4. Upon resumption, Shelton won four quick points to secure the victory, describing his goal as needing only “60 seconds” when re-entering the court[1].
Shelton spoke candidly about the challenges of such overnight interruptions, mentioning that switching off mentally during the pause was difficult: “When you’re in the middle of a match, you’re thinking about what you did, what you could have done, how you could have been off the court, what you’re going to do when you get back out there,” he explained. He prepared a specific game plan for that decisive service game and was pleased with his performance under pressure[1].
In his post-match interview, Shelton reflected on Wimbledon’s unique challenges, noting it’s a tournament where he often has to adapt to suspensions caused by rain or darkness. He joked about missing one first serve in the final game and expressed satisfaction in hitting three aces to seal the win, adding, “I couldn’t have been happier with what I came out here and did”[2].
At his press conference, Shelton also addressed the timing of the previous night’s stoppage, suggesting there were earlier opportunities to pause play before it became so late, but emphasized the need for players to adapt to tournament decisions and conditions. He stated, “It’s never ideal mentally having to wake up another day and be on,” but was ultimately happy with how he handled resuming play and finishing the job[3].
Shelton will face Marton Fucsovics in the third round as he aims to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for a second consecutive year. Currently 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, Shelton hopes this deep run will bolster his Nitto ATP Finals qualification chances[1].