'Beyond comprehension' - Furious Ben Shelton is held back as he yells at rules official while being ordered off Wimbledon court

‘Beyond comprehension’ – Furious Ben Shelton is held back as he yells at rules official while being ordered off Wimbledon court

To say the least, Ben Shelton wasn't too pleased with the chair umpire.

The American tennis player was just one game away from defeating Rinky Hijikata and moving on to the third round of Wimbledon, before the match was suspended due to darkness.

3 Shelton was furious at the ruling to suspend the match until tomorrow Credit: X/@ESPN

Shelton was serving for the match when the decision was made to suspend the action until Friday as the 9:30pm curfew for outside courts came into effect.

Shelton was leading 6-2, 7-5, 5-4 when officials put pause on the match. It was taking place on No.2 Court, which does not have a roof or artificial lights.

When the officials announced the decision, Shelton was furious as he marched over to the chair umpire.

Another rules official had to quickly come to Shelton's side and explain the ruling, while gently holding him back.

Shelton seemed to vehemently disagree with the ruling.

As he walked off, Shelton gave a fist pump to the crowd and thanked them for their support.

Even the ESPN broadcasting crew couldn't believe it.

"Oh my goodness."

"This is unbelievable," a stunned booth let out.

Fans were equally as shocked and couldn't believe the curfew rule.

3 Shelton couldn't believe they stopped the match Credit: X/@ESPN

3 Shelton tried to argue with the officials to keep playing Credit: Getty

"Yo @Wimbledon that’s just embarrassing. You spend 30 mins talking about whether or not to keep playing. You ultimately start the third set. And you let them play all the way until 5-4, and right when Ben Shelton is about to serve for the match, that’s when you call it. Pathetic," one fan commented on X.

"Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE they’re suspending Ben Shelton / Rinky Hijikata. For a major not to be able to continue beyond 9:30 is absolutely insane. This is beyond comprehension right now," another added.

"Ben Shelton has every right to be livid. After all this, you suspend the match right before Shelton is about to serve for it?? Absolute ridiculous decision yet again by tournament officials," one more added.

The 22-year-old is looking for his first career Grand Slam victory, and will now have to come back on Friday and try to capture the momentum once again, if he wants to do so.

Last year at Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round, a career best at the All England Club.

He has made it to the semifinals of a Grand Slam twice, once at the 2023 U.S. Open and most recently at the 2025 Australian Open.

If he wants to advance to the third round of this year's Wimbledon, he will now have to wait one more extra night.

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