This 70-Second Wimbledon Win Was Absolutely Bonkers

By Lewis Barnett 5 July, 2025 6 mins read 27 Views

I've been covering tennis for eight years now, and I've never seen anything quite like what Ben Shelton pulled off yesterday.

Seventy seconds. That's how long it took the American to wrap up his second-round match against Australia's Rinky Hijikata on Friday afternoon. The final score read 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, but those numbers don't tell the real story here.

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When Darkness Becomes Your Enemy

Here's where things got absolutely mental. Thursday night, 9:29 PM to be exact, and Shelton's cruising at 5-4 in the third set. He's about to serve for the match - hadn't dropped serve once the entire time - when suddenly the officials decide it's too dark to continue.

Too dark for the Hawk Eye cameras, apparently.

The look on Shelton's face? Pure disbelief. This guy had just blown three match points and was desperate to finish so he could get a proper rest day. Instead, he's arguing with chair umpires in what looked like twilight conditions while some Wimbledon official literally held him back from getting too heated.

Poor Rinky Hijikata probably thought he'd caught the break of his life.

The Most Ridiculous Comeback Ever

Friday rolls around, and Shelton returns to Court No. 2 with a mission. What happened next was like watching someone play tennis on fast-forward mode.

Four straight points. Game over.

Hijikata barely touched the ball - literally only made contact once during the entire 70-second sequence. The serving display was just nasty: 140mph ace, 107mph second serve that got framed out, another 140mph bomb, then a 118mph ace to seal the deal.

I'm sitting there with my press pass thinking, "Did that really just happen?"

Even the Microphones Gave Up

The on-court interview got delayed because of technical issues with the mics. At this point, even the equipment seemed confused by what we'd all witnessed.

Shelton couldn't stop laughing during the interview, which honestly made perfect sense. When ESPN finally got him talking, he was surprisingly diplomatic about the whole mess:

"It was difficult last night. At that point we knew we were playing in conditions that weren't ideal for tennis. For me it was like, 'What's one more game?' at that point."

Translation: I was annoyed as hell but whatever, I'll just destroy this guy tomorrow morning.

The Tournament Director's Damage Control

Jamie Baker, Wimbledon's tournament director, basically admitted they screwed up. His quote was refreshingly honest: "I'd have been pretty unhappy too."

He explained they'd been pushing late finishes all week because the weather had been cooperative, but Thursday night they pushed it too far. "It was almost completely dark," he said. No kidding, Jamie.

The whole situation felt like watching a bureaucratic nightmare unfold in real time. Here's a guy who hasn't been broken since his first set of his opening match, ready to close out a comfortable win, and suddenly he's dealing with light meters and camera technology limitations.

What This Actually Means

Beyond the circus atmosphere, Shelton's serving has been absolutely lethal this tournament. The stat about not getting broken since his first set is genuinely impressive - that's the kind of consistency that can carry you deep into the second week.

The 10th seed moves on to face whoever emerges from the other matches, probably feeling pretty good about his chances. When you can close out matches with that kind of authority, even under bizarre circumstances, it says something about your mental game.

Hijikata, meanwhile, gets to tell the story of how he lost a tennis match in 70 seconds for the rest of his career. Not exactly the kind of record you want to hold, but hey - at least it's memorable.

Sometimes tennis gives you these moments that remind you why we love this ridiculous sport in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What support team should a top tennis athlete have?

To be able to compete on the highest levels, top tennis players require a team of support. The team will typically include a head trainer to oversee the training and technical development of the player, a fitness coach for physical conditioning and injury prevention, a medical professional or physiotherapist for injury management and prevention, a sports psychology specialist for mental coaching and a nutritionist for diet advice. A hitting partner, a manager or agent, and sometimes a stringer can also be part of the team, ensuring the player can solely focus on their game.

Can someone start playing tennis late and still become a professional?

Tennis is a sport that can be played at any age. While it will require more effort, you can still reach professional status. Success will depend on the individual's athletic ability, work ethic, dedication, and access to quality coaching and competition. Late starters may need to undergo intensive, focused training. Although the road is more difficult, with talent and persistence, it's possible to reach a professional level.

What type of fitness training is important for tennis players?

Tennis is a demanding sport, requiring a combination of anaerobic fitness and aerobic endurance as well speed, strength, power, and agility. Tennis players' fitness training often includes cardiovascular exercises to increase endurance, explosive and plyometric exercises to increase speed and power, strength training, and agility drills to improve footwork and court movement. Exercises that improve core stability and balance are essential to building the endurance and coordination needed for tennis.

How can tennis players balance their training with schoolwork?

The challenge of balancing the demands of academics and training is one that all tennis players face. Time management, prioritization skills and sometimes creative scheduling are required. Online learning and flexible academic programmes can help young athletes accommodate their demanding training schedules and travel plans. The support of family, coaches, educational institutions, and other stakeholders is also crucial to ensuring that athletes can achieve their athletic dreams without compromising on their education.

How do mental and psychological aspects factor into tennis training?

Tennis players need to be trained in mental and emotional training just as much as they do physical training. Tennis players must learn how to handle stress, focus and the emotional highs or lows that come with competition. Common techniques include visualization, goal setting, and mental rehearsals. A sports psychologist helps players to build resilience, develop strategies for dealing with pressure and raise their mental game.

Statistics

Persistent mental training and sports psychology can help reduce performance anxiety by up to 60%, according to sports psychologists working with elite athletes.
Statistical trends indicate that top tennis players usually have at least 5 people in their support team, including coaches, fitness trainers, and physiotherapists.
Approximately 70% of a professional tennis player's training time is devoted to developing technique and on-court strategies.
Strength and conditioning coaches emphasize core strength, noting that an increase in core stability can improve shot accuracy by up to 43%.
Engaging in structured video analysis sessions has been shown to improve a player's tactical decision-making by approximately 35%.

External Links

How To

How to Improve Mental Toughness in Tennis

A multifaceted approach is required to increase mental toughness while playing tennis. Set attainable, clear goals to begin with and measure your progress. Use visualization techniques to mentally practice match situations and how you will respond to them. Use deep breathing and mindfulness exercises to improve your focus. Focus on the routine and not the results during matches and training. View setbacks in a positive light and develop coping techniques with the help of a coach or sports psychologist. Regularly expose yourself to high-pressure situations to enhance your mental resilience.