Novak Djokovic overcame a tense battle against Arthur Rinderknech on Friday to secure a 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) victory at Wimbledon, matching Roger Federer's all-time record of 105 men's singles match wins at the grass-court Grand Slam. The seven-time champion, despite not being at his clinical best, displayed his trademark resilience to neutralise the Frenchman's powerful serve and advance to the fourth round.
Djokovic's 105th Wimbledon Win Levels Federer
The win marked Djokovic's 105th singles triumph at Wimbledon, drawing him level with Federer for the most men's singles victories in the tournament's history. Only former world No. 1 Martina Navratilova, with 120 wins, has recorded more singles victories at Wimbledon overall. Djokovic expressed his honour at making history, stating, "To be able to make history in this sport is a huge honour and a huge privilege. Particularly here, it's always been a dream childhood tournament of mine."
Djokovic Reflects on Tense Match
Djokovic acknowledged the heightened tension during the match, saying, "Today I was quite stressed out. There was more tension than usual. I knew it would be a very challenging match for me. I'm just happy to overcome this." He even joked about a potential matchup with Federer for the 106th win, adding, "I propose a matchup between me and Roger for 106!"
Next Opponent: Roman Safiullin
Djokovic's victory sets up a fourth-round meeting with 28-year-old qualifier Roman Safiullin, who earlier delivered a dominant performance to defeat rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Safiullin's near-flawless display marked a remarkable turnaround after an injury-hit end to the 2025 season; he had not recorded a tour-level win in 2026 before Wimbledon.
Djokovic's Path Forward
The Serbian icon, aiming for his eighth Wimbledon title, will face Safiullin in the next round. Djokovic's experience and composure under pressure will be key as he continues his quest for another Grand Slam trophy.
