The Wimbledon Championships faced notable match delays as Ben Shelton’s second-round game was suspended late Thursday, just as he was poised to claim victory against Rinky Hijikata. The American 10th seed was leading by two sets and serving at 40-0 at 5-4 in the third set when poor lighting forced officials to halt play at 9:29 p.m. After missing three match points earlier, Shelton expressed frustration with the chair umpire over the decision to continue despite dim conditions. When action resumed on Friday, Shelton quickly closed out the match within 70 seconds, delivering three aces and an unreturnable serve to secure the win.

Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz demonstrated resilience over two grueling five-set matches amid scheduling challenges. His lengthy duel against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was interrupted by Wimbledon’s 11 p.m. curfew on Monday, with Fritz trailing at the time. The subsequent day, despite Perricard’s powerful 153 mph serve—the fastest ever recorded at Wimbledon—Fritz staged a comeback from two sets down to win 6-7(6), 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4. Fritz later explained he remained confident during the overnight break, noting,

“He was sleeping on that fourth set, and I just came back doing what I was doing.”

Less than a day later, Fritz endured another five-set battle against Gabriel Diallo, overcoming a scraped elbow and medical timeout to emerge victorious 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-3. Both contractors advanced to the fourth round, preparing to face Jordan Thompson and Lorenzo Sonego, respectively.

Yulia Putintseva’s Emotional Plea Highlights Growing Concerns Over Crowd Safety

On the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, Kazakh player Yulia Putintseva visibly broke down after a devastating 6-0, 6-0 loss to Amanda Anisimova in the first round. Amid the match, Putintseva appeared unsettled by a spectator in the stands and called for intervention from the chair umpire, refusing to continue until the individual was removed. She voiced serious safety concerns, fearing the person could be dangerous and possibly carrying a knife, questioning how long it would take for security to respond. This incident raised alarms about crowd management and player protection during the tournament.

Cameron Norrie Reacts to Intrusive Question about Emma Raducanu

In a post-match interview that sparked controversy, Cameron Norrie was asked an unexpected and inappropriate question regarding his relationship status with fellow British player Emma Raducanu. Following a convincing straight-sets win against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci to reach the fourth round, Norrie anticipated inquiries about his performance but was instead asked if he was dating Raducanu. The 29-year-old appeared confused and responded that he was not, advising the interviewer to ask Raducanu directly. The question provoked online criticism for its unprofessional nature, especially considering Norrie has been in a committed relationship with Louise Jacobi since 2019.

Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper Challenge Reliability of New Wimbledon Line-Calling Technology

The introduction of an AI-powered electronic line-calling system at Wimbledon sparked dissatisfaction from British players Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper. Raducanu, frustrated after her third-round loss to Aryna Sabalenka, disputed a critical call in a close first-set tiebreak that the Hawk-Eye Live system ruled in despite her belief that the ball was out. Wimbledon’s decision to replace all human line judges on covered courts with this automated system aims to minimize errors, but several players have voiced concerns about its accuracy.

Raducanu stated,

“It’s disappointing that the calls can be so wrong,”

highlighting multiple instances where she felt wrongly judged by the technology. Similarly, Draper described the system as “not 100% accurate” following his second-round defeat to World No. 83 Marin Čilić.

Naomi Osaka Criticizes Media for Selective Focus on Her Emotional Moments

After her third-round loss at Wimbledon, Naomi Osaka publicly condemned media outlets for emphasizing her displays of emotion while neglecting her positive interviews following victories. Osaka posted on Instagram Threads shortly after losing 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, challenging the narrative that she is “always sad.” In her post-match press conference, Osaka admitted to feeling like “a negative human being” and said she had “nothing positive to say” about herself. This ongoing frustration relates to concerns over how media portrayal affects public perception of her mental health, which became prominent during her withdrawal from the 2021 French Open.

Coach Goran Ivanišević Critiques Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Preparation After Early Exit

Stefanos Tsitsipas’s new coach, Goran Ivanišević, issued a scathing critique following the Greek player’s first-round retirement at Wimbledon due to a back injury. Trailing French qualifier Valentin Royer 6-3, 6-2, Tsitsipas’s withdrawal underscored his decline from World No. 3 to No. 26. Ivanišević, who formerly coached Novak Djokovic, criticized Tsitsipas’s lack of commitment and preparation. He remarked,

“I’ve never seen a more unprepared player. With my bad knee, I’m fitter than him,”

highlighting concerns that talent alone has not translated into consistent performance. Ivanišević emphasized the need for Tsitsipas to address off-court issues to regain elite status.

Mischa Zverev Surprised by Alexander Zverev’s Therapy Announcement Following Wimbledon Loss

Following a first-round defeat to Arthur Rinderknech, Alexander Zverev revealed in an emotional press conference that he plans to seek therapy, admitting feelings of emptiness and low motivation. His older brother, Mischa Zverev, expressed surprise at this revelation during an Amazon Prime Video interview, noting he had not observed significant warning signs and was learning about the therapy plans for the first time. Mischa commented,

“He’s fine. Of course he’s sad after a loss, but that’s normal,”

and added,

“If he’s talking about it, that’s good. I’m here to listen.”

Their recent discussions had been positive and included plans moving forward, with Mischa focusing on offering support as his brother navigates emotional fluctuations.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Ben Shelton sponsored by Rolex?

A. In 2024, Ben Shelton was chosen to be a Rolex Testimonee.

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A. Backing top tennis players like Iga Świątek and Ben Shelton is an important step for the sports brand On as it moves into the tennis market.