Qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki Stun Favourites at Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2026 results: Qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki caused significant upsets as they defeated higher-seeded players Joao Fonseca and Rafael Jodar, respectively, in the opening week of the tournament. Published on July 3, 2026, by BBC Sport, the article details the extraordinary performances of both players at Wimbledon.

Roman Safiullin, who had faced a tumultuous journey back to tennis after an injury scare, provided an emotional display after securing victory over Brazil's 24th seed Joao Fonseca with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. The 28-year-old, once a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, felt overwhelmed after the match, especially considering his current world ranking of 132 and the fact he had not won a single ATP Tour match this year prior to qualifying. Safiullin had ended his 2025 season in August and did not return to competitive play until February, but he now found himself on a six-match winning streak at Wimbledon, including his qualifying matches, leading up to a fourth-round clash against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic. Struggling to articulate his emotions post-match, he received a standing ovation from the crowd at Court Two. “After the US Open, I had to stop to treat my injury. That time was super tough. Even half a year ago, I didn’t know whether I would be able to come back,” Safiullin reflected. He expressed hope for his upcoming match against Djokovic, stating, “I played against him three times and only one time I was really close to getting a set against him. Hopefully this time I will give him problems and make him suffer on the court.”

On the other hand, Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki staged a remarkable comeback against Spain's 23rd seed Rafael Jodar. The 151st-ranked player had started the match poorly, losing seven of the first eight games but managed to secure a 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4 victory. Mochizuki, who had previously struggled to gain traction on the tour, was looking for his seventh consecutive win as he prepared for a fourth-round showdown with reigning champion Jannik Sinner. Mochizuki expressed bemusement at his success, stating, “It’s a strange feeling to play Jannik at Wimbledon, especially now this year. I think he’s just a celebrity for me.” His performance at Wimbledon marked a historic moment, being the first time he progressed to the fourth round at a Grand Slam event.

His compatriot, Naomi Osaka, supported him during the match after winning her own third-round contest. “I knew she had already won her match, so I was very happy she was there. She’s been playing the best tennis on this surface this year,” Mochizuki said. With the both of them advancing in the tournament, Osaka highlighted the inspirational dynamic of their relationship, describing their friendship as like that of an older sister to a younger brother.