In pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic prioritizes results over performance quality. He faced a formidable challenge on Sunday against Russian Roman Safiullin, at times appearing visibly frustrated on Centre Court as his rhythm faltered. Nevertheless, Djokovic triumphed for a remarkable 106th time at Wimbledon, advancing to the quarter-finals for the ninth consecutive time and the 17th overall. The 39-year-old has now reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament 66 times.
Djokovic secured a 7-6 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Safiullin after nearly three and a half hours of play in warm conditions. Despite showing moments of vulnerability, particularly against Safiullin’s strong performance — reflective of his career-high ranking of 36 rather than his current position of 132 — Djokovic managed to pull through. Safiullin had two set points at 5-2 in the first set but ultimately lost in a tiebreaker, and he did claim the third set before Djokovic elevated his game in the fourth.
“Roman started very well. He was very aggressive. I didn’t maybe feel as comfortable from the back of the court. I knew it was going to be a challenge staying in the rallies with him, particularly from the end where we were playing against the wind for pretty much the whole match. “I don’t get to feel inferior from the back of the court against too many players throughout my career, if I’m totally honest. Today was one of those days where I didn’t want to stay in the rallies too long, to be honest, so I had to mix things up. It worked in some moments and in others it didn’t. In the end, I managed to find the accuracy and precision on my first serve, which really got me out of trouble in the fourth set.” Djokovic expressed, clearly relieved. “Survive to thrive, that’s how I feel,”
He added, “Hopefully the thriving part is coming.”
Reflecting on his first week’s performance, Djokovic stated, “And the outbursts as well, the meltdowns. I had a few of those today as well, I apologise.” When reminded of his reputation for focus, he candidly remarked, “And the outbursts as well, the meltdowns. I had a few of those today as well, I apologise.”
One pivotal moment occurred early in the third set during a service game at 2-3. After saving two break points, Djokovic faced a third, which Safiullin capitalized on with a powerful forehand, breaking for 4-2. Frustrated, Djokovic reacted by hitting the ball to the back fence, narrowly avoiding hitting anyone.
From the outset, Djokovic struggled against Safiullin’s power, which kept him on the defensive more than usual. Although he broke serve in the opening game, Djokovic faced difficulties with sweat in his eyes, compounded by the wind and sun, allowing Safiullin to seize a 5-2 lead. Despite having two set points on Djokovic’s serve, Safiullin could not convert, leading to a break back. Djokovic, not playing at his best, managed to win the tiebreak 8-6 after 62 minutes.
The second set went smoothly for Djokovic, making it appear he would win in straight sets. His son, Stefan, seemed relaxed, playing Exploding Kittens in the player box, but Djokovic’s performance dipped early in the third set, allowing Safiullin to take it and reduce the deficit.
At that point, Djokovic adjusted his strategy, realizing the necessity to finish points quickly. He executed four out of five serve-and-volley points successfully and won nine of 13 at the net. This shift in approach propelled him to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set, and he maintained control to secure his spot in the next round, where he will face either Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No. 3 seed, or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
