Wimbledon 2026 results: Qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki stun Joao Fonseca and Rafael Jodar
One feared he would never be able to return to top-level tennis. The other one will now share the field with a player he thinks is famous.
Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki, the qualifiers who caused two of the biggest shocks of the first week at Wimbledon, will now set their sights on overthrowing two of the favorites for the Wimbledon title.
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are the superstars standing in the way of going even deeper in the tournament, with the quarter-finals just one step away.
Russian Safiullin was reduced to tears after a stunning 6-3 6-3 6-3 score against talented Brazilian 24th seed Joao Fonseca, who battled an injury six months ago from which he fears he will never fully recover.
The 28-year-old is a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist but is currently ranked 132nd in the world and had not won a match at ATP Tour level this year before entering the qualifiers.
He ended his 2025 season after the US Open in August and did not return to action until February.
Safiullin is on a six-match winning streak, including three knockout matches, in SW19 as he heads into his fourth-round clash with seven-time champion Djokovic on Sunday.
Safiullin, who struggled to speak through tears, received a standing ovation from the crowd on Court Two after her victory over 19-year-old Fonseca.
“I had to stop after the US Open to treat my injury. It was very difficult at the time. Even six months ago I didn’t know if I could do it. [come] He’s back,” Safiullin said.
Safiullin became emotional again as he tried to explain the significance of his victory, telling the BBC: “This [the emotion] I can say that it came from difficult times. It wasn’t an easy time.”
He said he was looking forward to facing Djokovic, adding: “I played against him three times and only once did I come close to taking a set against him.
“He destroyed me the other two times. Hopefully this time I can give him trouble and make him suffer on the field.”
