Safiullin halts Fonseca in straight sets and dissolves into tears on his return
A qualifier through three five-setters, now into the last 16 in tears: Roman Safiullin (No 132) stunned Joao Fonseca (No 24) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 at Wimbledon, overwhelmed by a comeback from injury he feared might never come.
Joao Fonseca, Wimbledon 2026 | © SPP / PsNewz
Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin produced the run of his life on Friday, brushing aside Brazilian 24th seed Joao Fonseca 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon – then broke down in tears as the enormity of a comeback from injury caught up with him.
The world No 132 was relentless from the baseline, striking 41 winners. It was a startlingly one-sided result against a player 100 places above him in the rankings, and it carried Safiullin into the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2023.
That he did so having come through qualifying, and after winning three consecutive five-set matches earlier in the draw, including a marathon defeat of 12th seed Andrey Rublev (6-4, 6-7 (6), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (12)), made the manner of Friday’s straight-sets dismissal all the more striking.
After the US Open I had to stop to treat my injury, and that time was super tough
The achievement overwhelmed him. Asked afterwards about the road back, Safiullin’s composure gave way. “After the US Open I had to stop to treat my injury, and that time was super tough,” he said. “Even half a year ago I didn’t know if I’d be able to be back.”
He began to cry and stepped away from the microphone as the crowd applauded, before returning to finish the thought. “I didn’t know. I’m super happy to be back here.”
Fonseca, ranked No 27, had beaten Dutchman Jesper de Jong (6-1, 7-5, 6-4) and Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3) to reach the last 32, but found no foothold against the Russian’s ball-striking.
Safiullin will next face the winner of the third-round meeting between French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech and Serbian seventh seed Novak Djokovic.
Wimbledon 2026, Men’s singles, third round
J. Sinner [1] vs J. Brooksby – UPCOMING
R. Jodar [23] vs S. Mochizuki (Q) – UPCOMING
H. Hurkacz vs T. Paul [21] – UPCOMING
J. Struff vs D. Medvedev [8] – UPCOMING
F. Auger-Aliassime [3] vs M. Zheng (Q) – UPCOMING
A. Davidovich Fokina [22] vs M. Fucsovics – UPCOMING
R. Safiullin (Q) d. J. Fonseca [24]: 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
A. Rinderknech [25] vs N. Djokovic [7] – UPCOMING
A. De Minaur [5] vs Z. Svajda – UPCOMING
K. Khachanov [19] vs F. Cobolli [9] – UPCOMING
G. Dimitrov (W) vs M. Berrettini – UPCOMING
Z. Bergs vs A. Fery (W) – UPCOMING
T. Fritz [6] vs L. Sonego – UPCOMING
F. Tiafoe [17] vs A. Bublik [10] – UPCOMING
J. Lehecka [13] vs J. Munar – UPCOMING
M. Giron vs A. Zverev [2] – UPCOMING
