Wimbledon Qualifier Shocks Favorite
Qualifier Roman Safiullin achieves stunning upset victory over Andrey Rublev at Wimbledon opener
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The opening day of Wimbledon 2026 delivered a dramatic double shock. Qualifier Roman Safiullin, ranked No. 132 in the world, defeated 12th seed Andrey Rublev in a grueling five-set battle lasting 3 hours and 58 minutes. The final score: 6-4, 6-7(6), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(12), decided by a nerve-shredding super tie-break that went to 14-12, according to Reuters.
Almost simultaneously, 11th seed Casper Ruud fell in straight sets to Hubert Hurkacz, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6. Two top-12 seeds gone before lunchtime. The Spanish sports press quickly dubbed it the "doble batacazo" — the double upset — of the tournament's first hours, as reported by Diario de Mallorca.
Safiullin Saves Match Points to Stun Rublev
Safiullin entered the main draw through qualifying, but he showed nothing of a journeyman. He took the first set 6-4 and controlled large stretches of the match. Rublev fought back to lead two sets to one, but the qualifier leveled at two sets apiece before forcing the decider, Tennis.com reported.
The fifth-set super tie-break was the match's defining moment. Safiullin saved two match points before closing it out 14-12. His return game was the quiet trump card: he won 61 receiver points to Rublev's 38, a gap of 23 points. He also won 83% of his first-serve points, compared to 75% for Rublev, according to Tennis.com.
Rublev's Grass-Court Struggles Reach a New Low
Rublev struck 54 winners and 22 aces. On paper, those are dominant numbers. But he also committed 8 double faults and cracked in the biggest moments. Analysts at Devdiscourse called the defeat "another disappointment" that completed a "completely failed grass-court swing" after an early exit in Halle.
The 13th-ranked Russian has never won a title on grass in 17 ATP career victories. Betting markets had him as a clear favorite at -175 odds, according to VSiN. His loss marks his second first-round exit at Wimbledon in three editions. He is now expected to drop out of the world's top 15.
Safiullin Has Done This at Wimbledon Before
This is not the first time Safiullin has arrived at Wimbledon as a qualifier and caused chaos. In 2023, he made a run all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to Jannik Sinner. His career-high ranking was No. 36. A slump in early 2026 dropped him outside the top 100, but his grass-court skills never faded, TennisTemple noted.
Safiullin next faces Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. By taking Rublev's place in the bracket, his path through the draw has opened up considerably. His ranking will also jump sharply back toward the top 100 as a result of qualifying and winning his first-round match.
Ruud and Draper Exits Deepen Day One's Damage
Ruud's loss to Hurkacz was swift and one-sided: 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 in straight sets. The Norwegian is a three-time Grand Slam finalist, but all on clay. Grass remains his worst surface, and Devdiscourse framed his exit as broadly expected rather than a true shock — logical rather than stunning.
Hurkacz, despite sitting at around No. 103 in recent ranking data, reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021. He is considered one of the most dangerous grass-court players in the game. The day's damage was made worse by the withdrawal of British No. 1 Jack Draper through injury, leaving home fans with little to cheer, Devdiscourse reported.
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