A dramatic scene unfolded late Thursday evening at Wimbledon between American Ben Shelton and Australian Rinky Hijikata, as the referee made a sudden decision to suspend the match due to darkness. The match was three sets into play, with Shelton leading 5-4 in the third set. Shelton had lobbied for the match to be suspended until Friday, but the referee initially refused, allowing Shelton to continue his dominant performance.
However, as the sun began to set, the referee finally paused the match at 9:30 p.m. local time, citing darkness as the reason for the suspension. ESPN commentators were stunned by the decision, with many expressing frustration and disappointment that the match was not stopped sooner.
Analysts James Blake and Coco Vandeghwe expressed their disapproval of the decision, stating that it put Shelton in a difficult position, having to come out cold on Friday to serve for the match. The commentary became overrun with chatter about the court conditions, which were slippery due to a rainstorm earlier that day.
Despite the controversy surrounding the suspension, ESPN’s broadcast crew received praise for their handling of the situation. They captured multiple shots of Shelton and Hijikata, and kept the story moving in real-time, making the moment feel like it did on the ground at Wimbledon.
Source: https://awfulannouncing.com/espn