Qualifiers eye more shocks after causing Wimbledon upsets
Qualifiers eye more shocks after causing – Roman Safiullin, a Russian qualifier, has made history at Wimbledon by overcoming top-seeded players in his debut matches. His dramatic 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over 12th seed Andrey Rublev followed a stunning upset of 24th seed Joao Fonseca, who had defeated him in the US Open earlier this year. Safiullin, ranked 132th in the world, had not secured an ATP Tour win since the end of the 2025 season, returning to action only in February after a prolonged injury battle.
A Resilient Comeback
After a tearful celebration following his triumph over Fonseca, Safiullin reflected on his journey. “I had to stop after the US Open to focus on my injury. That period was really tough,” he shared. “Even six months ago, I wasn’t sure I’d be back on the court.” The 28-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals in 2024, is now on a six-match winning streak at SW19, including three qualifying victories, as he prepares to face Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.
“It’s not an easy period. The emotion came from the hard times, I’d say. I just want to keep enjoying it,” Safiullin said, his voice trembling as he spoke.
A New Challenger in the Quarter-Finals
Meanwhile, Shintaro Mochizuki, the Japanese qualifier, has also shaken the tennis world. The 23-year-old, ranked 151st, defeated 23rd seed Rafael Jodar in a thrilling four-set battle (1-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4). This victory marks his first Grand Slam fourth-round appearance, making him the fourth Japanese man to reach that stage at Wimbledon.
“It’s a strange feeling to play Jannik at Wimbledon, especially now this year. I think he’s just a celebrity for me,” Mochizuki remarked. “I was not winning much before coming here, and I don’t know how I’ve been winning matches here.”
Mochizuki’s path to success has been equally challenging. Like Safiullin, he had lost all six matches this season before securing his spot in the quarter-finals. His triumph came after a close relationship with Naomi Osaka, who had cheered him on court 18 following their partnership at the United Cup. “She’s been really nice to me. She messages me when I win, and I follow her matches too,” Mochizuki added.
“We’ve kind of kept having this little brother-older sister friendship for a while,” Osaka said. “He was so funny [at the United Cup]. He’d be the only person that would talk to me. I think maybe I was scary to everyone else.”
Looking Ahead
Both players now aim to continue their remarkable runs. Safiullin, having defied odds to return to form, hopes to challenge Djokovic, the seven-time champion, in Sunday’s showdown. Mochizuki, meanwhile, will face Jannik Sinner, the reigning Wimbledon titleist, in a bid for his seventh consecutive victory at the tournament.
Additional Highlights
Wimbledon Daily: Sabalenka impresses while qualifiers advance Djokovic fights off Rinderknech to claim more history ‘You’re taking our jobs’ – doubles players angry at proposed cuts Live scores, results and order of play
