Shapovalov loses to Safiullin in fourth round at Wimbledon

LONDON –

Canadian Denis Shapovalov was dropped from the men’s draw at Wimbledon after losing to Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the fourth round and four sets on Sunday.

Safiullin, ranked 92nd in the world, defeated Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 on the All England Club’s No. 2 Court.

26th-seeded Shapovalov committed 11 double faults and won only one of three break points.

The Canadian appeared to be playing through a knee injury and struggled to get through the last three sets. He had a limp when he walked off the field after the loss.

Safiullin, who won 75 percent of his first serves, made up five of nine break point opportunities.

Also on Sunday, Leylah Fernandez, of Laval, Que., and American partner Taylor Townsend were eliminated from women’s doubles after losing their second-round match 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 to France’s Caroline Garcia and Luisa Stefani from Brazil.

Garcia also eliminated Fernandez in the women’s singles draw on Thursday.

Fernandez and Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof advanced to the second round in the mixed doubles with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Angel Chan of Taiwan and Fabrice Martin of France on Sunday.

Fernandez and Koolhof then play the British duo Jonny O’Mara and Olivia Nicholls.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 9, 2023.