Aussie Rinky Hijikata's dramatic Wimbledon escape against big-serving US star Ben Shelton
As his second round match with 10th seed Ben Shelton approached its finish on No.2 Court with the American in total control late on Thursday evening, Hijikata was on the brink of defeat at 2-6 5-7 3-5 and 0-40 down.
Yet Australia's world No.87 then fought tigerishly to win the next five points and stay in the hunt, by which time it was almost 9.30pm.
Conditions had become so dark on court without floodlighting that Spanish chair umpire Nacho Forcadell insisted he had to call a suspension.
Shelton was furious, being told he would not be given one last chance to serve out for the match.
The left-hander had previously not dropped his serve all match.
While he complained, and the courtside supervisor stepped in quickly, Hijikata had already swiftly sped away to complete his great escape, knowing he can return on Friday to try and rescue what looks to be a lost cause.
The most ridiculous aspect of the affair was that after he had taken his two-set lead at 8.40pm, the dominant Shelton had already queried with Forcadell whether there was enough time to complete the match.
The 22-year-old American also pointed out it was beginning to be slippery at the back of the court and seemed as if he would have been happy for the match to be postponed at that point.
Hijikata, perhaps playing for time, had meanwhile disappeared for a strategic comfort break.
When the 24-year-old returned, he didn't seem overly enthused about playing on.
Indeed, after slipping on the grass at 1-3 down, he pointedly told Forcadell: 'No mate, you're not the one out there running and moving.'
Elsewhere, fellow Aussie Alex de Minaur ousted Frenchman Arthur Cazaux and top seed Jannik Sinner outclassed Sydney raised Aleksandar Vukic in straight sets.
In the women's section, Australia's 16th seed Daria Kasatkina progressed to the third round after beating Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.
Kasatkina will next face 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lewis Hamilton plans talks with Ferrari over car that was ‘so hard to drive'
Lewis Hamilton plans to tell Ferrari to alter his car design for next season after the seven-time world champion battled to fourth at the British Grand Prix. Hamilton looked in contention to claim a first podium in Ferrari colours but paid the price for running off track in slippery conditions after pitting for slick tyres with 10 laps remaining. It meant Hamilton, who had finished in the top three in all of his previous 11 appearances at Silverstone, was unable to reel in Nico Hulkenberg as the 37-year-old clinched his first Formula One podium on his 239th start. Hamilton had complained of issues with his car throughout the race, saying 'it's so hard to drive' over the radio. 'It's the most difficult car I've driven here in these conditions,' Hamilton added. 'Ultimately I learnt a lot from today. There's a lot to take, it's only my second time driving this car in the wet and I can't even express to you how hard it is. 'It's not a car that likes those conditions. 'For me, I have to sit down with the people that design this car for next year because there's elements from this car that cannot go on to the following year.' Hamilton started fifth on the grid amid damp conditions at Silverstone and attacked race winner Lando Norris in the early stages before falling behind a string of cars following a raft of virtual and full safety cars in an incident-packed opening. The 40-year-old came out on top in a battle with former team-mate George Russell – including a superb double overtake on his compatriot and Esteban Ocon – before passing Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll to close in on the podium. But, after moving on to soft tyres while the track remained slippery, Hamilton ran across the grass on his out-lap and he dropped an insurmountable eight seconds adrift of Hulkenberg. Halfway through his first season with Ferrari, following his blockbuster move from Mercedes, Hamilton admitted he is yet to set the world alight amid the Scuderia's struggles. 'Not spectacular. I finished every race, other than the disqualification, so I'm not driving that terribly,' Hamilton said when asked for an assessment of his season. 'I just want to continue to improve. Qualifying was looking better and I think we just continue to build on that. I'm really hoping for some improvements moving forward.' Hulkenberg started 19th but drove brilliantly in changeable conditions to come home behind McLaren pair Norris and Oscar Piastri, with the championship leader's 10-second penalty for braking heavily under the safety car costing him victory. 'It has been a long time coming hasn't it. I always knew I had it in me somewhere,' Sauber's Hulkenberg said. 'Pretty surreal to honest, not quite sure how it happened. Quite incredible. 'I was in denial until the final pit stop. The pressure was there, intense race but we did not crack.' This weekend's top three drivers were presented with trophies made entirely of LEGO. Piastri jokingly asked Hulkenberg in the press conference how he felt about his first trophy in 239 races being one that could be pulled apart. 'I love LEGO, my daughter can play with it too!' the German responded.
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Australia boss Joe Schmidt admits Wallabies don't have 'real confidence' after struggling in last-gasp win over Fiji ahead of Lions series
There was not much for Joe Schmidt to shout about after his Wallabies salvaged a last-minute victory over Fiji in their one and only Test before they face the Lions. For large parts of the game, the Australians were outmuscled by their Pacific Island opponents, showing little to strike fear into Andy Farrell's camp. Even their poster boy midfielder Joseph Suaalii was kept under wraps. Australia's decision making was poor, gifting Fiji a half-time try when they could have kicked out the ball with the clock in red, and turning down kicks at goal to pull clear on the scoreboard. Asked if his team have shown enough to challenge the Lions, Schmidt said: 'I'm not a really confident sort of person. 'There's not real confidence but there's a quiet resolve. And that quiet resolve, hopefully over the three-match series can build to something. 'It's a great opportunity for us to bring the game back to the focus point that we'd love it to be in Australia. 'We didn't play well enough today for people to have expectation that we'll come bowling into Brisbane and knock the Lions over. 'I'm not sure that expectation was there before today, and so we're going to have to build that quiet resolve and inch by inch we can work our way towards that.' All of Schmidt's fingers will be crossed that big Will Skelton returns in time for the series opener in Brisbane because they looked in desperate need of his clout. They also face new injury concerns over hooker Dave Porecki and No 10 Noah Lolesio.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Sonay Kartal: I've proved to myself I can beat some of the best players
Sonay Kartal will take a belief that she can mix it with the best at grand slams away from a standout Wimbledon run. The 23-year-old reached the fourth round in just her sixth appearance in the main draw at one of the sport's major events but lost out to Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova under the roof on Centre Court. It was a close affair, with Pavlyuchenkova putting aside controversy over a line call after a failure of the new electronic system to edge a 7-6 (3) 6-4 victory and reach the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time in nine years. Centre Court gives Sonay Kartal a warm send-off after a brilliant run to the 4R of The Championships 🇬🇧 #Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2025 Kartal said: 'I'm obviously pretty devastated to not get the win. People were saying to me that the draw had really opened up but I think she played like a seed today. 'She was seeing the ball so well, taking it super early right from the very first point. She played two games which was almost unplayable for me. I think I did well to keep it as tight as I did. 'A few mistakes at not ideal times. I think that was the only difference today. I'm proud of the week that I've had, for sure. 'I've proved to myself that I can go deep into slams, I can beat some of the best players on tour. I'm going to go away with a lot of motivation.' A thunderous entrance ⚡️ Sonay Kartal and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova take to Centre Court for a fourth round meeting 🤝 #Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2025 Kartal, who will overtake Emma Raducanu to become British number two, could not have had a more dramatic entrance for her first time on Centre Court, with a huge clap of thunder reverberating around the arena as she strode out. 'I think there was thunder when I walked on and thunder when I came off,' said Kartal. 'That's one pretty cool entrance. I loved it. 'Walking out on to Centre, you just get goosebumps. You've got the roof closed, it's even louder. It was crazy. One very good experience I'm glad that I'll have on camera to watch every now and again. 'It was a dream come true being able to play on Centre today.' Kartal had started slowly in all her matches and it was the same here, with Pavlyuchenkova, who made her Wimbledon debut back in 2007, moving into a 2-0 lead. But the British player, who had her right knee heavily bandaged, had showed in beating Jelena Ostapenko in round one that she could overcome the power hitters, worked her way into the contest and it was finely balanced when the line-calling system took centre stage. On game point serving at 4-4, Pavlyuchenkova was convinced a Kartal shot had landed long but the technology was not working at the time – which Wimbledon organisers later attributed to human error – and the point was replayed. Pavlyuchenkova went on to lose the game, leaving Kartal serving for the opening set, and she furiously told umpire Nico Helwerth at the change of ends: 'Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me.' Kartal had one chance to clinch the set but could not take it and ultimately Pavlyuchenkova's ability to hit winners – 36 in total – made the difference.
