Novak Djokovic v Roman Safiullin LIVE: Wimbledon 2026 latest scores, results and order of play as Djokovic takes on qualifer before Aryna Sabalenka v Naomi Osaka
Novak Djokovic pranks ball girl at Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner remain on a collision course at Wimbledon while Naomi Osaka faces Aryna Sabalenka in a fourth-round blockbuster on day seven of the Championships.
Djokovic and Sinner, who could meet in the semi-finals, both play qualifiers on Centre Court this afternoon. Djokovic continues his bid for a record 25th grand slam title against former quarter-finalist Roman Safuillin, who knocked out Joao Fonseca, while Sinner meets Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki, the world No 151, but a winner against Rafael Jodar.
Osaka is through to the last 16 of Wimbledon for the first time and battles current world No 1 Sabalenka in a meeting of four-time grand slam meetings. Sabalenka has won all three matches they have played this season, including in the last 16 of last month’s French Open, but Osaka carries blistering form onto the grass.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, faces a tough test against Belinda Bencic, and there is an all-Czech contest between former champion Barbora Krejcikova and 10th seed Karolina Muchova. Yesterday, Arthur Fery kept British interest in the singles alive with a battling five-set win, while Filipino superstar Alexandra Eala knocked out reigning champion Iga Swiatek.
Follow latest scores and updates from Wimbledon, below
Wimbledon LIVE: Latest tennis scores and updates
Novak Djokovic 2-2 Roman Safiullin*
Djokovic has played 32 matches against qualifiers at grand slams before today.
He’s won all 32, including six at Wimbledon.
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:59
*Novak Djokovic 1-2 Roman Safiullin
Djokovic hits the umpire’s chair with a return from Safiullin’s serve that had landed out and holds his racket up in apology. Safiullin, settling now after the early break, puts away a lovely angled volley at the net to draw applause from Djokovic.
(PA)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:57
BREAK! Novak Djokovic 1-1 Roman Safiullin*
Suddenly Safiullin has the chance to hit straight back! A deep forehand from Safiullin brings the error, and is followed by a Djokovic double fault and forehand long. 15-40. Djokovic saves with the second-serve ace down the middle, then saves the second as Safiullin puts the return long.
But a Djokovic backhand error, off balance, brings a third break point and this time Djokovic can’t escape. His second serve is down at just 87mph, and he puts the backhand wide! Safiullin breaks back.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:53
BREAK! *Novak Djokovic 1-0 Roman Safiullin
Djokovic makes the perfect start! He is alert as he reaches a drop shot from Safiullin and returns it deft and at a sharp angle. A backhand error from the qualfiier brings up break point and Djokovic takes it as he pins Safiullin deep into his forehand corner and the Russian hits out.
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:46
Novak Djokovic 0-0 Roman Safiullin*
Cries of “Nole, Nole!” ring arouund Centre Court at the start of the warm-ups. The 39-year-old stands just four wins away from a record-breaking grand slam singles title. Roman Safiullin has won the toss, and elects the serve.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:42
Roman Safiullin’s emotional Wimbledon return after injury comeback
Roman Safiullin, the former world No 36 and Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2023, had to end his season early after the US Open last season due to injury. He dropped out of the world’s top 100, and needed to come through qualifying to return to the fourth round.
He fought back tears after beating Joao Fonseca in the third round as he spoke to the Court No 2 crowd. “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. “I’m super happy to be back here.”
Djokovic has won all three matches he has played against Safiullin. Their last match was in Shanghai in 2024, with Djokovic winning 6-2 6-2.
(AP)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:35
Roman Safuillin’s run to Wimbledon fourth round as a qualifier
Novak Djokovic will not need to face Joao Fonseca if he reaches the fourth round of Wimbledon after the Brazilian teenager was knocked out by qualifier Roman Safiullin.
The 24th seed was stunned in straight sets by the Russian qualifier Safiullin, ranked 132nd in the world. Safiullin won 6-3 6-3 6-3 in just over two hours.
Safiullin, 28, had won in five sets in his first two rounds, beating 12th seed Andrey Rublev in the first round and then Botic van de Zandschulp in the second.
Both matches went to a deciding set tiebreak, with Safiullin becoming the first player to win multiple deciding set tiebreaks in the same year at Wimbledon.
Safiullin, a former quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, had previously won three matches in qualifying – including a five-set win over Jerome Kym in the final round.
(AP)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:25
Novak Djokovic feeling ‘fresher’ as he aims for record Wimbledon title
Novak Djokovic said he needed his “wake my muscles” up during his third-round win over Arthur Rinderknech in the third round, but said he is feeling “better” and “fresher” at Wimbledon than when he was knocked out of the third round of Roaldn Garros.
“[I have] more energy now after three matches than I have had in Paris,” he said. “But it’s also normal and logical to expect that, considering the difference in the surface and physicality of the points and the effort that has to go in every shot with spin and everything on clay, it’s quite different here.
“It doesn’t mean that I’m not spending any energy on the court. Of course, I am. And the deeper I go into the tournament, obviously the less fresh I will be physically, but I’m trying to maintain that to an optimal level. But as I said, no major issues. I’m feeling fine.”
Novak Djokovic celebrated his victory with a dance (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:15
Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova knocked out in third round
There will be no Wimbledon redemption for Amanda Anisimova, who opened up on a “really rough few months” following defeat to Madison Keys.
“Obviously struggling with my forehand a lot lately,” she said. “Just something that I’m still trying to figure out. Just not easy to go out there and my level being that low. A lot of things for me to figure out.
“Normally, I’d be motivated and would just look at it as another opportunity going forward. But after the last few months, it’s really hard to see a silver lining, because it’s been really, really tough.”
Former Australian Open champion Keys, meanwhile, said other players in the locker room were “shocked” to learn that she had yet to play on Centre Court. Keys settled pretty well as she knocked out last year’s runner-up Anisimova 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
“Being on Centre Court here was one big one. I’m glad that I finally got to check that off of the list,” she said.
Keys, who won at Eastbourne last week, now faces ninth seed Linda Noskova for a place in the quarter-finals.
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 13:00
Arthur Fery soaking in the biggest win of his career
After beating Zizou Bergs in five sets, Arthur Fery will enter the world’s top 100 for the first time on Monday, earning him entry to the US Open main draw.
“It’s a really special moment. I can’t really fully process it yet. When I’m playing this well and having these kind of results, it was only a matter of time till I broke the top 100.
“It’s still a significant milestone. Doing it here is incredibly special for me. It’s my home tournament. It’s where I grew up. It’s very special.”
On how he will recover physically after playing the longest match of his career to reach the last-16, Fery said he was “buzzing” off adrenaline.
“First five-setter, longest match that I’ve ever played, first time breaking into the top 100, first second week in a slam, all at home, five minutes from where I grew up. It’s a great story for me.”
Arthur Fery lies on Court 18 after beating Zizou Bergs (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood5 July 2026 12:45
