Roman Safiullin, the Russian rising star who once trained alongside Andrey Rublev, has stunned the tennis world by reaching Wimbledon’s fourth round—setting up a clash with Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Safiullin, ranked 36th, defeated João Fonseca in a hard-fought three-set battle to book his place against the world No. 1, who seeks a record 25th Grand Slam title. Their junior rivalry with Rublev adds extra intrigue to the matchup.
Who is Roman Safiullin? Born in Podolsk, Russia, Safiullin was introduced to tennis at age four by his father, Rishat, a former youth academy coach. By 12, he was competing professionally, and by 16, he had won the 2015 Australian Open junior title. His rapid rise saw him train alongside Rublev, then another Russian prodigy, as they prepared for the ATP Tour.
Safiullin made his Grand Slam main-draw debut in 2021, but his breakthrough came in 2023 when he reached Wimbledon’s quarterfinals. That run remains his best Major result, and now he aims to match it—or surpass it—by defeating Djokovic.
How did Safiullin reach this Wimbledon moment? Safiullin entered Wimbledon as an underdog, having won just one ATP Tour match in 2026 before his victory over Fonseca. His journey back from injury was far from certain: after exiting the 2025 US Open, he underwent surgery and was unsure if he’d return. “I didn’t know if I’d be able to come back,” he said after his win, visibly emotional.
His aggressive all-court game, built on sharp movement and powerful serves, has earned him three career wins over top-10 players: Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Against Djokovic, Safiullin will need to replicate that intensity.
What’s the connection to Andrey Rublev? Safiullin and Rublev grew up in the same Russian tennis system, training together as juniors before Rublev became a Grand Slam finalist in 2021. While Rublev has since struggled with consistency, Safiullin’s rise mirrors the early promise of his former training partner—both relied on explosive serves and aggressive net play.
Rublev, now ranked 22nd, has not played at Wimbledon this year, but his influence looms over Safiullin’s career. The two were part of Russia’s junior development pipeline, and Safiullin’s success revives memories of Rublev’s own breakthroughs.
What happens next in Safiullin vs. Djokovic? Djokovic, who has won 13 of his last 14 Wimbledon matches, will favor his baseline game and experience. But Safiullin’s fearless approach could disrupt the Serb’s rhythm. If he wins, he’ll become the first unseeded player to defeat Djokovic at Wimbledon since 2019—and the first Russian since Rublev’s 2021 semifinal run.
The match kicks off on Sunday, July 14, 2026, at 14:00 BST. For Safiullin, an upset would be a career-defining moment—one that could redefine his trajectory, much like Rublev’s early successes did for Russian men’s tennis.