Key events
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 6-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
All Safiullin needs to do is hold. He is yet to win a set against Djokovic across the four meetings the pair have had. He gets to 30-15 and a long shot from Djoko puts him within a point of pushing this to a fourth set. He does it, huge. What resilience.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 5-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Safiullin was in this exact position in the first set but he did not capitalise and Djokovic battled back to win it in a tie break. The Serbian will force him to serve for the set as he wins the game to hold.
Muchová was 4-1 up in the deciding third set against Krejčíková but it is now at 4-2.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 5-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Can Safiullin make this one count? He gets to 30-0 well and Djokovic’s frustration is clear as a missed drop shot put him 40-0 down. A great forehand sees Safiullin hold.
Djokovic whacks a ball in frustration and he gets booed for the action. He has to be careful, the umpire has warned him already about his behaviour.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 4-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Safiullin is okay to keep going, hopefully his hip isn’t giving him too much discomfort. It doesn’t seem to be as he expertly moves Djokovic around the court to win the first point. Again, a delightful backhand puts the underdog 30-0 up and Djokovic uncharacteristically puts it out of play. Safiullin now has three break points but an ace sees Djokovic defend the first and an incredible forehand defends the second. Safiullin smacks the net to send the game to deuce.
The Russian changes direction on a rally and it secures him advantage but some lovely work close to the net sees Djokovic defend yet another break point. Back and forth we go but eventually he breaks him, on the seventh time of asking.
Safiullin is still on the floor receiving treatment, Djokovic is keeping himself warmed up. This is so tough to watch with the Russian overcoming injury issues to play so well at this tournament but he currently has a towel over his face in discomfort. He gets back to his feet and I think he will be okay to continue.
While he receives some treatment let’s get some score updates from across the tournament. Auger-Aliassime and Davidovich are at 2-2 in the first set, while Muchová and Krejčíková are 1-1 in their deciding third.
Safiullin has called the trainer out and he is having a discussion with him now. The trainer puts a towel on the floor and Safiullin lays down with the trainer looking at his hip. His long-term injury was with a hip issue, let’s hope he is okay.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 3-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
It felt like it was going to be a quick service game but Djokovic has forced this to deuce, he wants this match wrapped up. An ace give Safiullin advantage and a long shot from Djoko sees him hold.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is underway against Alejandro Davidovich with the game on court 1 currently at 1-1.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 2-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Safiullin had chances in the first set to take it and in this third he had the opportunity to go 3-0 up but both times he hasn’t taken it and a frustrated Djokovic looks likely to win a straight sets match now. The Serbian quickly secures 40-0 and a lovely move to the net secures hold.
Impressively Krejčíková has managed to come from 5-2 down in the second set to take it 7-5 to push the match against Muchová to a deciding third set. Absolute massive from the former Wimbledon champion.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 2-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic shouts in frustration and he gets a warning from the umpire. Safiullin’s issue is he can’t capitalise when he is on top, this would be the perfect opportunity to put more pressure on Djokovic but the first point sees him force the ball out of play. He does the exact same thing on the next two balls and Djoko now has break point.
He doesn’t take it on the first opportunity but he has two more attempts and he take it on the second.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 2-0 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A frustrated groan meets the first point of this game as Djokovic hits the net, the seven-time winner has clearly got into his groove in this match but he still doesn’t seem 100% comfortable. A rapid ball into the net puts it to 15-15 but a lovely cutting shot put Safiullin ahead. He can’t keep the pressure up with a long ball but then Djoko spins with his hands in the air as he gifts Safiullin break point.
Djokovic makes an error and Safiullin breaks, that was all the Serb’s fault.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 1-0 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Safiullin has all the pressure on his shoulders as he must win this set to stay in Wimbledon. He makes Djokovic wait to get this third set underway with around seven minutes the gap between the last point and the start of the third. The Russian wins the first point but fumbles the second. A drop shot puts him ahead again and a fabulous forehand winner gets the game to 40-15. A greatly played forehand sees him hold.
Karolína Muchová is 5-4 up in the second set but Barbora Krejčíková has done well to keep her hopes alive. She lost the first set 7-5 and went 5-2 down in the second but she is fighting on court two to push it to a decider.
Safiullin is walking off of the court for this break between sets. He has a huge mountain to climb if he is to win this match.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 3-6 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic needs four points to seal this second set and easily wins the first. He misjudges his volley to put the ball out but an ace gives him his second point. Djoko is not doing this cleanly as another wry hit puts the game 30-30 but a drop shot gives him set point which he secures.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 3-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server
Can the qualifier hold on and make Djokovic serve for the second set? He can. A well controlled game keeps him in the set but now he must break Djokovic or the seven-time winner will be two sets up.
Karolína Muchová and Barbora Krejčíková are into their second set after the latter won the first 7-5. Muchová is currently 5-2 up in the second.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 2-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic seeks to compound that break with a hold of serve and he races to a 40-0 lead but a lightly placed drop shot from Safiullin halts a perfect game for the Serbian. But Djoko manages to hold.
Pegula executes comeback win
Jessica Pegula may have lost her opening set 6-4 against 18-year-old Iva Jovic but she battled her way back to go through to the next round.
The American won the second 6-3 and dominated the third 6-1.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 2-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Now, could this be where the second set changes? A forehand shot goes out from Safiullin and a lucky edge close to the net puts Djokovic 30-0 up. Yet some epic close action this time sees Safiullin have cat-like reflexes to get himself on the board in his service game. He follows it up with a loose ball and Djoko has break point. The Serb can’t execute the first but he has another opportunity yet he slips again and the game is at deuce.
Advantage goes Djoko’s way for another break point but he hits the net and so back to 40-40 it is. Eventually the star gets it over the line and the second set is in his control.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 2-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
In this second set both players have looked quite comfortable on their own serve with no threat of a break yet. This game is no different with Djokovic controlling the game well until Safiullin hits a smash ball to get on the board at 30-15. Safiullin puts the ball out next but Djoko gestures in frustration as he slips a few times during that rally but he holds.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 2-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Both players are using the majority of the allocated time to serve, the clock ticks down to around four or five seconds before they both eventually hit it. This time Safiullin is serving but a double fault lets Djokovic into the game and a delightful forehand winner puts the Russian 30-15 up. Djoko puts another ball out of play and he hits the net for Safiullin to hold.
Pegula has quickly got to a 3-0 lead in the deciding third set against Jovic. The teenager started well against her fellow American but has dropped off since.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A well-timed drop shot and a light forehand puts Djoko 30-0 up. Two unreturnable serve comes next and the Serb holds.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8), 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic’s cap is back on as Safiullin serve and the Russian races to a 40-0 lead. He forces Djokovic to move toward the net and he orchestrates the point well to hold.
Safiullin* 6-7 (6-8), 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
This second set to underway around six minutes after Djokovic wrapped up the first. Safiullin has started well, the impact of losing the first not clear from his form. A nice drop shot puts him 15-0 up on Djokovic’s serve but he then smacks the net and then it is out to give the Serb a 30-15 lead. A net-clipped shot bounces over and Djokovic has the opportunity to hold and a lovely read of play sees him tap a shot to do just that.
Djokovic has gone into the changing rooms in this break between sets, while Safiullin has remained out on court under an umbrella.
Gavriella Epstein-Lightman has emailed:
Safiullin reached the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 2023, losing in four sets to Jannik Sinner. I was there and witnessed Safiullin’s crackling pace firsthand. Three years later, he’s troubling Djokovic in a fourth round match that he scarcely believed he’d be able to reach, given his injury woes. Incredible stuff.
His emotion in his pre-match interview about the support from his wife and overcoming injury was so moving. Safiullin is playing so well and probably better than most would have thought, if he can keep that up and get a set this could open up.
Pegula has won the second set 6-3 against Jovic, who took the first 6-4. The deciding third set is coming up soon.
Safiullin will be disappointed he didn’t get that first set under his belt. He served for the set but Djokovic managed to break and from there it felt like the seven-time winner would take the first. Safiullin needs to quickly put that behind him and move forward.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) Djokovic
A smash wins Safiullin his first point of the tie break after Djoko secured the first. There is a fist pump from the qualifier as he sends a ball rocketing past Djokovic to go ahead. Safiullin’s forehand winner puts him 3-1 up, remember he only needs to get to seven to win the tie break. Djoko creeps back into the battle with Safiullin sending a shot long and a lovely drop shot puts it at 3-3.
The Serb goes ahead with a drop shot going awry for Safiullin and another forehand is out from the Russian. But Djokovic isn’t clinical with his lead just 5-4 now. Safiullin makes another error and Djokovic now has two set points, surely he will make this count? He doesn’t with the first with an expert rally well worked by Safiullin and then he hits the net! Wow.
The drop shot was the right decision there from Safiullin but the execution isn’t there and so Djokovic has another set point. This time he wraps it up.
Safiullin* 6-6 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic looks like he will be sending this to a tie break as he gets quickly to 40-0 and there it is, a huge task for Safiullin to beat the seventh seed in a tie break.
