Qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki are setting their sights on further upsets at Wimbledon, with title contenders Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner next in their path. Both players have already caused significant shocks in the early stages of the tournament.
Russian player Roman Safiullin, ranked 132nd in the world, overcame a challenging period of injury that he feared would prevent his return to top-level tennis. After a stunning victory over the 24th seed Joao Fonseca with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Safiullin expressed his emotion. The 28-year-old, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, had not won an ATP Tour-level match this year before entering qualifying and ended his 2025 season after the US Open in August, returning to play in February.
Safiullin is now on a six-match winning streak at the All England Club, including his three qualifying matches. He is scheduled to face seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round. Safiullin noted his past encounters with Djokovic, stating that he had only come close to winning a set once, with Djokovic dominating their other two meetings. "Hopefully this time I will give him problems and make him suffer on the court," Safiullin said.
Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki is also preparing to face a high-profile opponent. He is set to compete against Jannik Sinner, a player he considers a celebrity. Mochizuki's advancement to this stage represents a significant achievement, and he now looks to challenge one of the tournament favorites.
Safiullin's victory over Fonseca, a 19-year-old, was met with a standing ovation. "After the US Open, I had to stop to treat my injury. That time was super tough. Even half a year ago, I didn't know whether I would be able to [come] back," Safiullin shared with the BBC. He described his emotions as stemming from the difficult period he endured.
