Novak Djokovic and Roman Safiullin shared an amusing moment together before their walk onto Centre Court at Wimbledon on Sunday. The route that players take from the dressing room to the main show court at SW19 is one of the most iconic in tennis. They start at the bottom of lavish stairs in rich wooden surroundings before walking past the honours board where the names of every men's and women's singles champion is listed in gold lettering. The history of the club is laid bare to remind the stars of the sanctuary they are about to step into.
Safiullin's Joke Before Debut
Players competing on such a stage may get nervous when completing this pilgrimage. But not Russian star Safiullin, who cracked a joke before his Centre Court debut. "Your name's everywhere," the Wimbledon qualifier said. Djokovic, 39, was quick-witted in his response. "I've been around a few years," Djokovic replied.
Safiullin's Emotional Journey
Safiullin pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament when he beat Joao Fonseca in the third round. He broke down in tears after setting up a showdown with the 24-time Grand Slam champion. "From the final round of qualifying until now, I've faced super tough matches," Safiullin said. "I've been saving match points, spending four hours on court each match, battling through five sets. It was super tough, but I'm very happy to perform at this level and finally win in three sets today."
After sobbing alongside his wife in the stands, he added: "After the US Open, I had to stop playing to treat my injury. That time was super tough for me because half a year ago I didn't know if I would be able to come back. I didn't know, so I'm super happy to be back here."
