Russia’s Roman Safiullin serves to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov during the men’s singles match against on day seven of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 9, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
World number 92 Roman Safiullin reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon on Sunday when he defeated Denis Shapovalov in four sets.
The 25-year-old Russian, who had never previously passed the second round of a major and was making his Wimbledon debut, came through 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 against the 26th-seeded Canadian, a semi-finalist two years ago.
Safiullin had only won one match on grass prior to coming to the tournament.
His reward is a match-up with either Jannik Sinner, the Italian eighth seed, or Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia, for a place in the semi-finals.