Jodar

One feared he might never return to top-level tennis. The other will now share the court with a player who, in his mind, is a celebrity.

After causing two of the biggest shocks of the first week at Wimbledon, qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki will now set their sights on toppling two of the favourites for the Wimbledon title.

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are the superstars standing in their way of going any deeper in the tournament, with the quarter-finals just a step away.

Russian Safiullin was in tears after a stunning 6-3 6-3 6-3 over talented Brazilian 24th seed Joao Fonseca, having struggled with an injury he feared he would never fully recover from six months ago.

The 28-year-old is a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist but is now at 132 in the world rankings and had not won an ATP Tour-level match this year before entering qualifying.

He ended his 2025 season after the US Open in August and did not return to action until February.

Safiullin is now on a six-match winning streak in SW19 – including three qualifying matches – as he goes into a fourth-round meeting with seven-time champion Djokovic on Sunday.

Struggling to speak through his tears, Safiullin was given a standing ovation by the crowd on Court Two following his victory over 19-year-old Fonseca.

“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 said.

Safiullin again became emotional as he tried to explain the significance of his victory, telling the BBC: “It [the emotion] came from the hard times, I would say. It was not an easy period.”

Looking ahead to facing Djokovic, he added: “I played against him three times and only one time I was really close to getting a set against him.

“The other two times he destroyed me. Hopefully this time I will give him problems and make him suffer on the court.”

Alexander Zverev ensured his pursuit of an elusive Grand Slam title remained on track with a comprehensive victory over highly-rated teenager Rafael Jodar to reach the French Open semi-finals.

Second seed Zverev is the highest-ranked man left in the singles draw after a series of shock exits in Paris.

The German has long been tipped for Grand Slam glory but has struggled in the pressure moments, suffering defeat in three finals and seven semi-finals.

He came up short against Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open final, despite leading by two sets to one, and has fallen four times in the Paris last four alone.

Tuesday’s meeting with 19-year-old Jodar was billed as a potentially tricky tie, with the Spaniard tipped to be a future star.

But Zverev, 10 years Jodar’s senior, used all his experience to come through 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-3.

“I want to keep going and win the matches ahead of me – that is my goal and my aim,” Zverev said.

“Today was a very good test against a very good player.

“I am happy to be in the semi-final but for now, that is it.”