Novak Djokovic was angry near the beginning of the third set in his fourth-round match against Roman Safiullin at Wimbledon 2026. The all-time great had fought through the first set before having a slightly easier second set. He didn't want things to suddenly go awry.
After dropping his serve to go down 0-2 in set three, and before Safiullin began serving in the third game, Djokovic loudly began to scream in his native tongue. The chair umpire issued him an abusive language warning, though most few in the Wimbledon crowd likely understood what Djokovic was saying.
He wasn't mad at anyone but himself, it seemed. The question is whether it would change what was beginning to happen. He was up two sets to none, but he still had plenty of time to lose the match.
Novak Djokovic tested, but overcomes Roman Safiullin in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2026
He did immediately break back, and then held serve with relative ease. The third set was back on serve, and the Russian was hanging around just enough to keep the Serbian uncomfortable. Every match that Djokovic plays now is a serious one, after all. He picks and chooses when he plays, and he doesn't play that much. He doesn't show up to lose, especially at Wimbledon.
Ahead of the third set, Safiullin had taken an extended break between sets. The assumption was to change clothes and not receive medical treatment for some unknown issue, but the lengthy absence might have miffed Djokovic. Then, ahead of the 24-time Grand Slam champion serving at 2-3 in set three, Safiullin did take a medical timeout for his hip.
The odd part is that the Russian didn't move as if he was bothered by the issue. He appeared fine. Whatever was happening, he was able to break Djokovic in the next game to take a 4-2 lead in the set. That was just a step on the way for Roman Safiullin to take the set 6-3.
An aggressively disgruntled Djokovic was likely happier after a great start to the fourth set, however. He got an early break of the Russian and simply needed to keep holding serve. He was able to do so to take the set 6-3 and the match, but he wasn't very happy with how the event unfolded. Maybe he can use that energy to propel him to his 25th major title by the time Wimbledon is done.
Novak Djokovic will next play the winner of the Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina match in the quarterfinals. Both players have had good runs leading up to Wimbledon 2026, and either will be a challenge to beat.
