SPORTS

London: Djokovic sets Wimbledon match wins record

▪

Read, Watch or Listen

LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic added another milestone to his Wimbledon legacy on Sunday, defeating Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin 7-6(6) 6-3 3-6 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals and claim a record 106th match victory at the All England Club, moving clear of retired rival Roger Federer on the men’s all-time wins list at the grasscourt Grand Slam. The 39-year-old seventh seed is now also targeting an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Federer’s record, as well as a standalone 25th Grand Slam singles crown, after navigating another demanding four-set contest on Centre Court. Djokovic had to recover from an uneven start and periods of uncharacteristic errors, twice dropping serve and saving two set points at 2-5 down before edging a fiercely contested first-set tiebreak in hot, windy conditions. World number 132 Safiullin, returning from months out with a hip injury, continued to pressure the Serb and extended the match by snatching the third set, but his challenge faded after a costly backhand error in the second set and Djokovic’s improved serving in the fourth. Mixing up his tactics with serve-and-volley play and relying on precise first serves at key moments, Djokovic closed out the win to set up a last-eight meeting with either third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, later describing his first week as a case of having to “survive to thrive.”

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Past months Safiullin sidelined with hip injury
Earlier this Wimbledon Djokovic advances through early rounds
Sunday Djokovic faces qualifier Roman Safiullin
Sunday Safiullin leads first-set 5-2
Sunday Djokovic saves two first-set set points
Sunday Djokovic wins in four tough sets
Sunday victory breaks Federer Wimbledon wins record
Next Djokovic prepares for Wimbledon quarter-final

Why This Matters to You

Djokovic's record-breaking win at Wimbledon is a reminder of the power of perseverance. Even after an uneven start and challenging conditions, he pushed through. It's a lesson in resilience, whether you're a tennis fan or not.

The Bottom Line

Novak Djokovic is now the all-time leader in Wimbledon match wins. He's also eyeing two more records: an eighth Wimbledon title and a 25th Grand Slam singles crown. Keep an eye on his next match. Worth forwarding if you know someone who loves a good sports record chase.