From qualifying to centre stage as Safiullin and Mochizuki earn shot at Wimbledon giants

LONDON, July 3 : Even as Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner continued to command the Wimbledon spotlight, an unlikely challenge emerged from the qualifying ranks when Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki surged into the second week of the Championships.

Safiullin earned his place in the last 16 and a clash with Djokovic after a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win over Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca on Court Two, with the Russian turning emotional after only his third tour-level main draw win this year after three rounds of qualifying.

The former world number 36, who has slipped to 132 after cutting short his 2025 season due to a career-threatening hip injury following the U.S. Open, has been grinding away on the Challenger circuit and is now reaping the rewards.

"From the final round of qualifying until now, I've faced super tough matches. I've been saving match points and spending four hours on court each match, battling through in five sets," said the 2023 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, holding back tears.

"It was super tough, but I'm very happy to perform at this level and finally win in three sets today.

"After the U.S. Open, I had to stop playing to treat my injury. That time was super tough, because half a year ago I didn't know if I would be able to come back."

Safiullin and his wife, watching from the stands, both broke down in tears as the crowd rose to applaud the Russian.

"I'm super happy to be back here," he added, stepping away from the microphone and cutting his on-court interview short.

MOCHIZUKI WILL TRY TO MAKE SINNER UNCOMFORTABLE

On Court 18, Mochizuki scripted a remarkable story of his own as the Japanese qualifier ended the run of Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar 1-6 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 to set up a meeting with world number one and