Key events
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.
There is a huge battle on court 1 as Pegula is 4-2 up in the second but she was 4-1.
Safiullin 6-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
A great rally ends with a drop shot bouncing just out and Safiullin races to a 40-0 lead with Djokovic forced to send other shots out and he then holds.
Safiullin* 5-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
That break of serve is exactly what Djokovic needed and he looks much more himself in this service game. Safiullin has also out of sorts, he has put so many shots long and he just needs to calm himself. Djokovic is at 40-0 but hits the net before sewing up the game.
Safiullin 5-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic perfetly weights a return for Safiullin to hit the net. There is quite the Djokovic fan club on centre club, they have been in full voice since the Serb’s form has dropped. Djoko bends and shouts in frustration as he hits the net himself but a rogue drop shot give Djokovic break point and he wins it on the first time of asking. Safiullin has wasted a chance to take the first set.
Safiullin* 5-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic has taken off his cap for his latest service game, one he must hold to keep himself in this first set. Safiullin is in full control of each point as he sends Djokovic across the court at 15-15 and the Serb sends the ball out next. The seven-time Wimbledon winner is not currently in the top form we usually see him in but gets a forehand winner to send it to 30-30. Safiullin is on the precipice of break and set point as Djoko hits the net but it is sent to deuce with an ace.
The Russian gets set and break point again, can he confirm it this time? No he can’t as we go back to deuce. An ace give Sjoko advatange but after the longest rally of the game, a drop shot sends it back to deuce. Eventually Djoko manages to hold, Safiullin can now serve for the set though.
Pegula has gone 2-1 up against Jovic in the second set with a break but she did lose the first 6-4, the second is a must win for her. A huge performance so far by the 18-year-old.
Safiullin 5-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Safiullin hits the net but then he executes a delightful forehand. The pair exchange drop shots and then Safiullin lofts the ball which bounces just in, lovely tennis. A double fault puts the game at 30-30 but he marshals the next point well to go one point from holding. An ace does that for Safiullin and he is in the driving seat of this first set.
Safiullin* 4-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic has put some eye drops in before this game, he has been struggling a bit in this match. He sends the ball long and then his first serve goes awry, he is again facing the sun where his game went off the rails slightly earlier. Safiullin’s smash gets him 30-0 up and a double fault gifts him break point. That was a fantastic point by Safiullin, wow. He sends Djokovic to both corners and the Serbian cannot return the second.
Safiullin 3-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Safiullin is going toe-to-toe with Djokovic in this match and it’s crucial because if the Serbian got on top it will surely be a done deal. Holding out as long as possible will be important and he gets to a 40-0 lead. Djokovic hits the net and Safiullin pokes ahead.
Safiullin* 2-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic has the sun on his back now and races to a 40-0 lead in his service game. A rogue shot long from Safiullin sees Djoko hold in a quick game.
Pegula has lost the first set against teenager Jovic 6-4, action in the second about to get underway on court one.
Safiullin 2-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic does not look at all comfortable in the sun, the sweat is frustrating him. He remains in the sunshine as he receives serve from Safiullin but at 15-15 an ace puts the Russian 30-15 up and a beautiful drop shot puts him in touching distance on holding. That shot was that good that Djoko even appluaded it! He then easily holds.
Safiullin* 1-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Safiullin who gets the first forehand winner of this second game. Interestingly Djoko keeps wiping his eyes with his shirt now he’s in the sun, he has a cap on but he looks frustrated with the sun. It has led to Safiullin getting two break points, an ace from Djokovic negotiates the first and the second but a wild shot gives the underdog advantage and he is broken.
Safiullin 0-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
They are underway in the last 16 match on centre court and Safiullin wins the first point, he starts quite aggressively. The Serbian levels it before Safiullin hits a forehand winner but a great rally ends with Djokovic pushing his opponent left and right to get to 30-30. Safiullin hits the net to gift Djoko break point and an error sees him win it.
Pegula has got back to 3-3 in her match against Jovic, still in the first set on court one.
Djokovic and Safiullin have walked out onto centre court with their match coming up soon, we will bring you a game-by-game update from that while bringing you the big headlines from the other courts.
I know I am starting to get old because the commentators have just said that Jovic, who is playing Pegula on court one, is just 18-years-old. When she was born I was starting secondary school! Now she is 3-1 up against the fourth seed at Wimbledon.
Patten and Heliovaara through
The top seeds in the men’s doubles are through to the next round after winning a tie break in the deciding through set 10-6. They lost the first set Pavlasek and Rikl7-5 but they fought back in the second to take that 6-3 and survived going a break down in the third.
The winner of who starts the singles competition first today is Jessica Pegula who is in action against Iva Jovic on court 1. Pegula is currently 2-0 down in the first set.
Brit Patten and Heliovaara have taken the deciding third set to a tie break against Pavlasek and Rikl. The pair won a tie break in their last match so can they do it again? They are currently drawing it 1-1.
I can’t wait to see Naomi Osaka’s look today, she has been using fashion to express herself and represent her heritage across all of the slams. So far at Wimbledon she has been wearing a white kimono and she told the BBC about it:
When I think about Wimbledon, it’s obviously the all white. There’s obviously the tradition of it all. In my head, when I think about that, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian.
Then, if I dive deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono. You don’t have to see the colour of a kimono to know that it is a kimono.
I don’t know, I was thinking about my favourite movies also. I love Kill Bill. I remembered absolutely falling in love with Lucy Liu’s character.
She has an all-white kimono, and I remember thinking that was really cool. Then it just kind of went from there. It was like my interpretation of that, while also paying a lot of respect and love to Japan.
Osaka is scheduled to be on centre court against Aryna Sabalenka at 3.10pm BST.
Patten and Heliovaara are clinging on in this match. They were broken early in the third set by Pavlasek and Rikl but they have fought back to win a break themselves, they are currently 4-3 down but they are next to serve. A great match.
In the singles competition, Karolína Muchová and Barbora Krejčíková are scheduled to start the action on court 2 but that will happen after the men’s doubles match is wrapped up. So Novak Djokovic against Roman Safiullin could actually be the game that begins first on centre court. That match is scheduled for 1.30pm BST.
Elise Mertens is currently in action in the women’s doubles with Zhang Shuai as her partner. They lost the opening set 6-3 to Hsieh Su-wei and Wang Xinyu but they have pushed it to a deciding set after winning the second 6-4. Action in the third about to get underway.
Patten and Heliovaara have taken the second set 6-3 and so the match will be going to a deciding third set against Pavlasek and Rikl.
Day six rewind
Here are all of the big stories from yesterday’s action:
Staying on court 2, Patten and his men’s doubles partner Harri Heliovaara are a set down after losing the opener 7-2 to Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl but they are winning the second 5-2.
A fan is having an issue on court 2, there is a pause in the men’s doubles match. Brit Henry Patten spotted the lady was having some trouble and stopped play to make sure she got the attention she needs. The commentators have confirmed she is okay and is helped out by security.
Sunday’s order of play
Centre Court (from 1.30pm BST)
Roman Safiullin v Novak Djokovic (7)
(1) Aryna Sabalenka v Naomi Osaka (14)
(1) Jannik Sinner v Shintaro Mochizuki
No 1 Court (from 1pm BST)
(4) Jessica Pegula v Iva Jovic (16)
(3) Félix Auger-Aliassime v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (22)
(11) Belinda Bencic v Coco Gauff (7)
No 2 Court (from 11am BST)
(10) Karolina Muchova v Barbora Krejcikova
Hubert Hurkacz v Jan-Lennard Struff
Preamble
Hello and welcome to day seven of Wimbledon. There were some huge shocks yesterday which I will go throigh shortly and a lot of comeback wins, so will today bring us similar drama?
The players set to compete could definitely generate it. Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner are all in the order of play today so there are sure to be some twists and turns.
The doubles matches have already begun and I will bring you any big news from those games later on, while the singles matches start from 12.30.
For now, let me bring you the order of play from day seven. If you have any thoughts or questions, give me an email.
