Safiullin's wife can't watch as BBC gasp at net cord drama
Roman Safiullin's wife, Liudmyla Smolanova, could not bring herself to watch during a tense first-set moment as her husband served for the set against Joao Fonseca at Wimbledon on Friday, while BBC commentator Pete Odgers reacted in disbelief after another net-cord stroke of fortune favored the Brazilian. The viral crowd shot captured the emotional stakes behind Safiullin's third-round run at SW19.
Key Takeaways
- Liudmyla Smolanova was seen looking at the floor as Roman Safiullin battled Joao Fonseca on Court Three.
- BBC commentator Pete Odgers exclaimed "It's happened again" after Fonseca's net-cord return crawled over during a pivotal first-set game.
- Safiullin bounced back to take the set minutes later, with cameras showing his wife smiling and recording the action.
- Pre-match previews had favored Fonseca despite Safiullin's qualifying grind and 2023 Wimbledon quarter-final pedigree.
- The moment underscored how fine margins and fortune can shape high-stakes grass-court tennis.
Why couldn't Safiullin's wife watch the Wimbledon match?
During Roman Safiullin's third-round clash with Joao Fonseca, cameras cut to Liudmyla Smolanova in the stands as tension peaked in the first set. With Safiullin serving at 5-3 and looking to go ahead, Fonseca's return clipped the top of the net and trickled over for a fortunate winner.
It was not the first net-cord moment of the contest, and the sequence proved too much for Smolanova to watch. She was shown looking down at the floor while BBC commentary noted how understandable that reaction was when luck swung so sharply against her husband.
What did BBC commentators say during the net-cord moment?
BBC commentator Pete Odgers captured the disbelief in the booth when Fonseca benefited again from a net cord. "It's happened again," he said, reflecting how repeatedly the ball had caught the tape and fallen Fonseca's way.
After Fonseca quickly apologized to Safiullin on court, Odgers added: "Wife can't watch, and you can understand when stuff like that happens." When Safiullin recovered to close out the set shortly afterward, Odgers noted, "Wife happy now," as Smolanova was seen smiling and filming the turnaround.
How did Safiullin and Fonseca arrive at this Wimbledon showdown?
The matchup paired contrasting paths into the third round. Fonseca, the 24th seed, was bidding to reach the Wimbledon last 16 for the first time and had advanced with straight-sets wins, including a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Jesper de Jong. He told reporters grass rewards bravery and committed movement.
Safiullin arrived as a qualifier and heavy underdog, ranked 135th in the world. The 28-year-old Russian, a 2023 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, had battled through qualifying and consecutive five-setters, including a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-5) win over Botic van de Zandschulp. Pre-match analysis on The Grandstand pointed to Fonseca's fresher legs and ball-striking, though it acknowledged Safiullin's SW19 pedigree.
Why does this moment matter beyond one point?
The clip turned a routine net cord into a human story about the pressure on players and families at Grand Slams. For Safiullin, who entered on a five-match winning streak through qualifying, every swing carried extra weight against a rising star like Fonseca.
As the contest developed, Safiullin produced strong tennis to take the opening two sets and put Fonseca in trouble, per Daily Express reporting. The episode also fits a broader pattern of dramatic turns at SW19, where fortune and composure often decide who advances. For more celebrity and sports crossover stories from the grass courts, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.