Roman Safiullin, after battling months of injury setbacks, secured a remarkable victory at Wimbledon by defeating Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to progress to the fourth round. Safiullin, aged 28, arrived at the tournament without a single tour-level win in 2026 but displayed a strong performance against Fonseca, claiming victory in straight sets within two hours and nine minutes. This win matched his previous best result at Wimbledon, achieved in 2023 when he reached the quarter-finals.
The emotional Safiullin, visibly moved, struggled to hold back tears post-match as he reflected on his challenging journey back from injury. Following the US Open, he had to halt to address his injury concerns, a period he described as extremely difficult. Safiullin expressed his joy at being able to return to the sport, stating, “Even half a year ago, I didn’t know whether I would be able to come back.”
Having concluded his 2025 season after the US Open for injury recovery, Safiullin entered Wimbledon ranked 132nd after successfully navigating the qualifying rounds. His impressive run included saving two match points against Andrey Rublev in the first round and triumphing over Botic van de Zandschulp in five sets. In the match against Fonseca, Safiullin delivered a stellar performance, saving all five break points he faced and dominating proceedings to secure a spot in the last 16. This victory also propelled him up the rankings, with a significant rise of 37 places to No. 95 in the live ATP rankings.
Safiullin’s most notable Grand Slam performance was at Wimbledon in 2023, where he reached the quarter-finals before being defeated by defending champion Jannik Sinner. With his recent win, Safiullin improved his career record at Wimbledon to 9-3. Looking ahead, he is set to face either seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic or France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round, with a quarter-final spot at stake.
