Naomi Osaka advances as Safiullin stuns Fonseca at Wimbledon
Naomi Osaka reached the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday with a straight-sets 6-1, 6-3 win over Daria Kasatkina, while qualifier Roman Safiullin stunned 24th seed João Fonseca 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 — eliminating the teenager who beat Novak Djokovic at the French Open and reshaping the men's draw as Djokovic and Jannik Sinner were due on court later. Osaka, the 14th seed and four-time major champion, opened play on Court One against Kasatkina, a former world No. 8.
Key Takeaways
- Naomi Osaka beat Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon fourth round on Day 5.
- Roman Safiullin, ranked No. 132, knocked out João Fonseca in straight sets and broke down in tears after the win.
- Fonseca's exit removes a potential fourth-round rematch with Novak Djokovic, who faced Arthur Rinderknech on Centre Court.
- Defending champion Jannik Sinner was scheduled to face Jenson Brooksby on Court One later Friday.
- Safiullin will face the winner of Djokovic–Rinderknech for a place in the quarter-finals.
How Did Naomi Osaka Perform Against Daria Kasatkina?
Osaka controlled the match from the first ball on Court One. She took the opening set 6-1 and closed out Kasatkina 6-3 in the second to book her place in the last 16 at SW19. The victory extended a strong grass-court run for the Japanese star, who entered the third round as one of the headline names on a stacked Day 5 schedule that also featured Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
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Why Did Roman Safiullin Break Down in Tears After Beating João Fonseca?
Safiullin's 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 dismissal of Fonseca was far from a routine upset on paper. The 28-year-old Russian had come through qualifying and survived three consecutive five-setters earlier in the draw, including a marathon win over 12th seed Andrey Rublev. Ranked 132nd in the world, he dismantled the 19-year-old Brazilian with controlled aggression — hitting more than 40 winners while making just 18 unforced errors, according to match reporting.
After the final point, Safiullin was overcome with emotion during his on-court interview. Reflecting on a lengthy injury layoff that began after the US Open, he told reporters: "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." He stepped away from the microphone in tears before returning to add, "I'm super happy to be back here." The ATP Tour carried his full remarks from No. 2 Court.
What Does Fonseca's Exit Mean for Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon Path?
Fonseca had beaten Djokovic in a five-set French Open third-round thriller last month, making him one of the most dangerous floaters in the Wimbledon draw. His straight-sets loss to Safiullin means the seven-time champion will not face a fourth-round rematch with the Brazilian teenager if he advances past 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech.
Instead, Djokovic's likely next opponent is Safiullin — a player with genuine SW19 pedigree, having reached the quarter-finals in 2023. As The Independent noted, Djokovic's French Open conqueror crashed out in one of Day 5's early shocks, easing the immediate pressure on the 39-year-old's bid for a record 25th major title.
Who Else Was Still in Action on Wimbledon Day 5?
Beyond Osaka and Safiullin's results, the third round continued across the grounds. Djokovic opened Centre Court against Rinderknech as he pursued another deep run at the All England Club. World No. 1 and defending champion Sinner was slated to play Brooksby on Court One after Osaka's match, while top seed Sabalenka faced Jelena Ostapenko in a high-profile women's clash. Gauff and other American contenders were also on the Day 5 order of play, keeping the Guardian's live coverage busy as the Championships hit their second week.