Roman Safiullin has certainly made a splash at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. The 25-year-old from Russia has reached the fourth round at the All England Club, upsetting some higher-ranked opponents along the way. He beat Roberto Bautista Agut, the 14th seed, in a thrilling five-setter in the first round, followed by a straight-sets win over Corentin Moutet in the second round.
Roman then dispatched Guido Pella, another former top-20 player, in three sets in the third round. He will face Denis Shapovalov, the 10th seed, in the round of 16 on Sunday. But who is Roman Safiullin, and how did he get to this position? Here are some facts about the rising Russian star who is making headlines at the major championship.
Early Life
Roman Safiullin was born on August 7, 1997, in Podolsk, Russia. He is very close with his parents, Rishat and Elena Safiullin, who often accompany him to tournaments and support his tennis career. He also has a younger brother named Timur Safiullin.
Roman started playing tennis at the age of six and quickly showed his talent and passion for the game. He attended Podolsk Sports School, where he trained under his father, Rishat Safiullin, who is also his coach. He also trained at the Spartak Tennis Club in Moscow, where he met and befriended Andrey Rublev, another top Russian player.
Roman Safiullin career
Safiullin had a successful junior career, reaching a career-high combined ranking of No. 2 in May 2014. He won several prestigious junior titles, such as the Grade A Trofeo Bonfiglio in 2014, where he beat Rublev in the final. His biggest junior achievement was winning the 2015 Australian Open boys’ singles title, defeating Hong Seong-chan in the final. He also represented Russia at the 2016 Summer Universiade, where he won the gold medal in singles.
Professional
Safiullin turned professional in 2015 and joined the ITF Futures Tour, which is the lowest level of professional tennis. He won his first Futures title in 2016 in Turkey and gradually climbed up the rankings. He has competed on the ATP Challenger Tour, professional tennis’ second highest level. Roman won his first Challenger title in 2020 in Cherbourg, France, both in singles and doubles with Pavel Kotov.
He played on the Challenger Tour for four seasons, from 2018 to 2021, and recorded nine singles titles and two doubles titles. He earned his ATP Tour card for the 2022 season by finishing second at the 2022 LPGA Q-Series. The 2022 season is Safiullin’s debut season on the ATP Tour. Roman has played in 15 events so far and made eight cuts. His best result was reaching his first ATP Tour-level semifinal in Marseille, France, in February 2022.
He won his first top-10 match by defeating top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. He also reached his first ATP Tour-level quarterfinal in Lyon, France, in May 2022. Roman made his Grand Slam debut in the 2021 Australian Open when he defeated Ilya Ivashka in the second round. He also qualified for the 2021 French Open and reached the second round with a win over Carlos Taberner. He qualified for his third Grand Slam at Wimbledon by winning a sectional qualifier in Roehampton in June.
Roman Safiullin Biography |
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| Real Name | Roman Rishatovich Safiullin |
| Birth Date | 7 August 1997 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 25 Years |
| Birth Place | Podolsk, Russia |
| Profession | Tennis Player |
| College | – |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 6’ 1” – in Centimeters – 185 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 80 kg – in Pounds – 176 lbs |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
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Family |
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| Father | Rishat Safiullin |
| Mother | Marina Safiullin |
| Sister | Yulia Safiullin |
| Brother | – |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Who is his wife? | Liudmyla Safiullin |
| Children | None |
Personal Life
Roman married to his loving girlfriend Luidmyla Smolanova back in November 2022 and she can be spotted in the player box cheering for him quite often. Liudmyla is recognized for her remarkable talent as a professional dancer. Though further information about her dancing career is not provided, her proficiency in this art form adds a fascinating dimension to their union, blending the worlds of tennis and dance.
Social Media
Safiullin has a moderate presence on social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. He has over 8,000 followers on Instagram (@romansafiullin), where he shares photos and videos of his tennis journey, his family and friends, and his hobbies and interests. He has over 1,000 followers on Twitter (@RomanSafiullin), where he posts updates on his tennis results, his opinions on various topics, and his interactions with other tennis players and fans.
Roman Safiullin Net Worth
According to a few sources, the net worth of Roman Safiullin, the Russian professional tennis player, is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million as of 2023. He has earned a total prize money of US$1,138,723 to date from his tennis career. Roman is sponsored by HEAD Tennis, a sports equipment company that provides him with racquets, apparel, and accessories. He also earns income from endorsements, appearances, and other ventures.
