‘This is unbelievable’: Controversy leaves US star ‘furious’; Novak defends Wimbledon act — Wrap

Ben Shelton was left fuming after his second-round match with Australian Rinky Hijikata was suspended because of bad light just as the American prepared to serve for the match.

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The big-hitting Shelton had taken the first two sets 6-2, 7-5 and was on the brink of progressing to the third round, having gone ahead of Hijikata 5-4 in the third.

The match could have been over before the stoppage considering Shelton had lost three match points, although adding to his frustration was the fact he had asked for play to be suspended before the start of the third set.

A visibly upset Shelton tried to argue his case with the umpire but was not going to have the decision overturned, with the American now having to wait until Saturday to serve out for the match.

It means Shelton won’t have an extra day to recover ahead of his potential match against the winner of Marton Fucsovics vs Gael Monfils.

“This is painting themselves into a corner,” match analyst James Blake said of Wimbledon officials.

“Now, Ben is furious that they’re stopping, 5-4, when he has to come out cold to serve 5-4.”

“If I’m Ben Shelton, I’m really furious right now that I’m not able to serve it out,” analyst Coco Vandeghwe later added.

“Four points, four serves, it could be over in a matter of minutes.”

Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while world number one Jannik Sinner cruised into round three on Thursday.

But there was heartbreak for home favourite Jack Draper as he crashed out to former finalist Marin Cilic.

Djokovic avoided becoming one of the host of big names eliminated in week one in south London as the Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court.

“It means I’ve been playing quite a long time!” Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory.

“I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special.” Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history.

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The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open.

Despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major.

“I’m aware of the history on the line. I’m thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament,” he said.

Sinner is yet to reach a Wimbledon final, but the US and Australian Open champion has been ruthless in dropping just 12 games in his opening two matches.

The Italian thrashed Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to set up a third round clash against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

“We saw there have been so many upsets this tournament so we try to stay focused and raise our level,” said Sinner.

Novak Djokovic reacts as he plays against Daniel Evans. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) Source: AFP

Draper’s dream of following in the footsteps of Andy Murray as a British champion were dashed as 36-year-old Cilic rolled back the years.

The Croatian, who is making his first Wimbledon appearance for four years after major knee surgery, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory.

“The emotions I’m feeling are incredible,” said Cilic, who lost the final to Roger Federer at the All England Club in 2017.

“It’s been a long journey but I never lost any doubt. This was a huge challenge, to come back and play at this level against Jack, in front of this crowd.”

Speaking after the match Draper said he needs to overhaul his grass-court game.

“It’s probably one of my toughest losses. Pretty frustrated and upset. It hurts badly,” Draper said.

“I’ve been disappointed with my game on grass this year. I felt great on clay and hard courts but as soon as I came on grass I felt a big difference.

“It highlighted a lot of weaknesses in my game, especially against a player as good as him on grass. I can take a lot of lessons from it.”

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Draper, meanwhile, expressed his frustration with Wimbledon’s new AI line judges after the match.

One moment in particular left the Brit fuming, With the match on a knife’s edge at 2-2 in the fourth set and 15-0, a Cilic serve appeared to bring up chalk dust but was not called “out”.

Draper argued with the umpire before Hawk-Eye close-up showed the ball catching the line by just two millimetres.

“I don’t think it’s 100 per cent accurate, in all honesty,” he said after his third second-round exit.

“A couple of the ones today, it showed a mark on the court. There’s no way the chalk would have showed.“I guess it can’t be 100 per cent accurate. It’s millimetres. It’s for both ways.

“ It’s a shame [for] tradition that the umpires aren’t involved. But it’s obviously something that makes it easier for the players because we don’t have to worry about line calls.”

Draper, meanwhile, is the latest highly-ranked star to endure a surprise exit from Wimbledon this year, with German men’s third seed Alexander Zverev and four of the top five women’s seeds all eliminated.

As Cilic secured match point, a commentator said: “The older man making new memories at Wimbledon - Jack Draper joins all the other seeds scattered on the ground.”

Krejcikova’s relief -

Only one of the top five seeds in the women’s draw -- world number one Aryna Sabalenka -- is still standing.

But defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three-set wins.

Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025.

Jack Draper gestures against Marin Cilic. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Despite not feeling 100 percent, she overcame American Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro.

“Definitely a huge relief,” said the Czech. “I wasn’t feeling that well but I was fighting for every ball. I’m really happy I won the third set.” Swiatek has previously struggled on Wimbledon’s lush lawns despite being a former junior champion at the All England Club.

The former world number one dropped the first set to American Caty McNally before roaring back to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

“For sure second and third set I played how I wanted to play,” said Swiatek. Elena Rybykina, Wimbledon winner in 2022, demolished Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1. Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged 18, beat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6

DJOKOVIC FORCED TO DEFEND CELEBRATION

Novak Djokovic insists his post-match victory celebration at Wimbledon is not a show of support for political protests in Serbia.

Djokovic has taken to marking his wins at the All England Club with an unusual dance routine on the court.

The 38-year-old Serb blew kisses to the crowd before turning to the players’ box to perform the ‘pump’ moves after beating British wildcard Dan Evans in straight sets in the second round on Thursday.

Djokovic pumped his hands towards the ground, before repeating the action to the sides and above his head.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion’s pumping gesture, which he also used after his first-round victory over Alexandre Muller, has been controversial in Serbia.

The word pump is synonymous with a student protest sparked by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which claimed 16 lives.

Students have put together blockades at their schools, accusing the government of corruption.

The “pump it” phrase is used by students as a reminder to keep putting pressure on the government.

Djokovic has previously praised protesting students in Serbia, wearing a hoodie that read “students are champions” and dedicating a victory at the Australian Open to a student who was injured during a protest.

But the seven-time Wimbledon winner is adamant his celebration at the grass-court Grand Slam is simply a bonding moment with his young children.

“As I mentioned to the Serbian journalists, it’s something between me and my children. We have a song, it’s called ‘Pump It Up’,” he told reporters when asked if it was a political gesture.

“I don’t know how many of you guys know that. It’s quite an old song. Good rhythm.

“So yeah, we’re pumping. We love pumping. We pump after every win. I don’t know the name of the artist.” Bursting into song, Djokovic added: “Don’t you know, pump it up, you got to pump it up”. Disco song!

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