'She helped me survive' - Majchrzak thanks wife for SW19 run

One of the first things Kamil Majchrzak did after claiming a spot in the Wimbledon fourth round was jog over to his wife Marta and plant a heartfelt kiss on her lips.

The Polish player credits her with helping him "survive" the darkest period of his life.

Not only had Majchrzak reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, but the 29-year-old felt it was a redemptive moment having served a 13-month doping ban.

The world number 109, who has always maintained his innocence, missed all of the 2023 season after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

"I'm incredibly happy after what I've been through to be back here at Wimbledon and living my dream," Majchrzak, who returned from suspension at the start of 2024, told BBC Sport.

"My wife has been very strong for me and helped me survive the case and the process.

"She sacrificed a lot - not just during this period because we've been together a long time.

"She created me as a tennis player and a human being. "

Going over to his wife and loved ones came moments after Majchrzak had secured the best win of his career.

His instant reaction to securing a straight-set victory over France's Arthur Rinderknech was to fall backwards on to the grass - although he had to briefly sit up to check his forehand winner had not been deemed out.

When he climbed to his feet, he produced a euphoric slam-dunk leap and punched the air before shaking hands with Rinderknech.

The scenes were also a response to coming through a part of his life that he previously told BBC Sport felt "pointless".

Majchrzak failed a doping test in 2022 and was told his urine showed traces of anabolic steroids.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) - the independent body set up by the sport's governing bodies to catch dopers - issued a provisional suspension as per the rules.

"My whole life had been about tennis. Suddenly I didn't know if I was going to play again. It was devastating," he said last year.

At the start of his suspension, Majchrzak had played regularly at the four Grand Slams, represented Poland at the 2020 Olympics and reached a career-high ranking of 75.

Banned substances showed in three subsequent tests and Majchrzak argued a batch of herbal nutritional drinks was contaminated.

The ITIA's testing of several unopened sachets of the supplement confirmed they explained the adverse findings in his test.

The ITIA agreed Majchrzak did not intentionally take banned substances. But he was found to be 'strictly liable' and should have known there is a "significant risk" with supplements.

Having already been provisionally banned for seven months, he decided not to continue challenging the 13-month suspension handed out.

"I've definitely changed as a person, I still believe I have some fears and [am] still scared because I don't want to go through this again.

"The trauma is still with me but I'm dealing well with it.

"It has made much me stronger as a person being surrounded by my closest people, I think we have a bond that means I feel obliged to do my best."

It has been a long and varied journey back to the top of the game for Majchrzak, who estimates he spent "100,000 or 150,000 euros" (£85,000-£130,000) fighting his case.

Once he had served his suspension, he dipped into savings to travel the world trying to rebuild his career.

Relying on wildcards from sympathetic tournament directors, he was invited to play on the lowest rung of the professional ladder in Tunisia and Egypt, then moved on to Rwanda, China and Taiwan for ATP Challenger events.

Lots of victories meant his ranking quickly improved and the hard yards have eventually led to his first direct entry into a Grand Slam main draw since the 2022 US Open.

With his wife Marta by his side at Wimbledon, Majchrzak says the pair are "following our dreams" together.

On Sunday, he will face 17th seed Karen Khachanov for a place in the SW19 quarter-finals - having never previously won a main-draw match here.

Remarkably, Majchrzak also came into the grass-court season on a seven-match losing streak and then drew 2021 finalist Matteo Berretini in the first round.

"Matteo is one of the best grass-court players in the world, so my expectations were not that high," Majchrzak said.

"If I have to choose a Grand Slam to reach the fourth round - and possibly deeper - it would be here. There is such an aura and magic about Wimbledon."