Ben Shelton tells Wimbledon umpire to 'keep an eye' on rival after complaints

Ben Shelton has told Wimbledon umpire Alison Hughes to "keep an eye" on Lorenzo Sonego during their spicy fourth-round clash. The flashy Italian took the first set 6-3 over the 10th seed and Shelton started complaining about how long Shelton was taking to serve.

But it fired him up, and Shelton went on to take the second 6-1. His opponent left Court 1 for a bathroom break and the American started quizzing the chair official again during the delay.

BBC presenter Clare Balding quickly picked up on the tension between Shelton and Sonego as the broadcast cut to Court 1. "This is really interesting, it's pretty spicy as well," she explained.

"This is Lorenzo Sonego in the headband, look at that, on set point, cross-court passing shot gets the better of Ben Shelton but Sheltin is very upset about the time he is taking to serve. Has a big conversation here with Alison Hughes. And he's basically questioning the fact that Sonego takes the full 25 seconds every time before he serves.

"But that fired Shelton up as in the second set he's come storming back. Shelton taking the second set 6-1. So it is one-set all and Ben Shelton during this latest break has just been having words again with Alison Hughes."

During the changeover, Shelton was heard telling the chair official: "No matter what he will never start before it's down to 3, 2, 1."

The American was made to wait again after he stormed through the second set for the loss of one game, as Sonego took an alloted off-court bathroom break.

Shelton approached Hughes again and started asking how many breaks were allowed in the best-of-five set match, as commentator Andrew Castle suggested the world No. 10 wanted the umpire to keep tabs on Sonego.

"Just confirming how many toilet breaks you're allowed to take," Castle said.

"Now what he's saying there is, this guy, Sonego, is doing this again to me. He's saying just keep an eye on him. He's working the umpire here, and that's fine."

The drama continued in set three as Sonego was broken in the seventh game after throwing in too many mistakes, then broke straight back to level at 4-4 and pumped his fists in the direction of his box.

There was a lot on the line. Both men were seeking a maiden Wimbledon quarter-final, having previously lost in the fourth round. But Shelton went on to win 3-6 6-1 7-6(1) 7-5.

Shelton had already had plenty of drama with umpires earlier in the tournament, when his second-round match against Rinky Hijikata got suspended for darkness when Shelton was about to serve for the match at 5-4 in the third set.

Tour supervisor Ali Nili had to hold the American back as he approached the umpire, understandably upset about the timing. But Shelton returned the next day and won a 70-second service game, then joked that Nili thought he was going to "throw hands".

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