Djokovic Fights Past Rinderknech to Make Wimbledon History
Novak Djokovic continues his pursuit to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon men's singles titles. The Serbian star secured a significant milestone by defeating Arthur Rinderknech to advance to the fourth round at Wimbledon, simultaneously matching Federer's record for the most singles match wins at SW19.
Following a commanding second-round victory over former top-10 player Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic faced a more challenging opponent in Rinderknech on Centre Court. The 39-year-old Djokovic endured a spirited comeback from the French 25th seed but ultimately triumphed with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4).
With this win, Djokovic's total Wimbledon singles match victories now stand just behind nine-time women's champion Martina Navratilova, who holds the record with 120 wins. Additionally, Djokovic equaled Federer's record of 18 Wimbledon fourth-round appearances, a feat he acknowledged with humor.
"I propose a match between me and Roger for 106! Whoever wins it, gets it. Let's just stop this here and let's call him down."
"To be able to make history on this court is a huge honour and privilege. This was always a childhood dream of mine.
"I'm not really thinking about how many more I can get, I'm just really trying to win the match on a given day."
Djokovic, who holds a men's record 24 major titles, will next face Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, who advanced by defeating Joao Fonseca 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Meanwhile, defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round.
Djokovic's Resilience and Spectacular Play
Djokovic appeared to be in control as he secured his sixth and seventh consecutive sets at this year's Wimbledon, asserting dominance against the powerful Rinderknech. The crowd was treated to exquisite shot-making, including a memorable volley executed at full stretch, after which Djokovic acknowledged the audience with a bow and a finger to his ear.
Despite a competitive start with early breaks traded, Djokovic found his rhythm, but Rinderknech remained a formidable opponent, forcing break points in the second set. Djokovic responded by applying pressure and converting break points, signaling a likely victory.
Rinderknech, who notably eliminated third seed Alexander Zverev last year, maintained his composure and was rewarded with consecutive service breaks, dominating the third set. The crowd grew increasingly engaged as Rinderknech's confidence surged deep into the fourth set.
The match culminated in a tense tie-break, with both players holding serve until the 10th point when Rinderknech erred on a forehand. The final moments were marked by both players diving to reach shots, with Djokovic's dive securing the match point and prompting a standing ovation.
"I think I've done everything I needed to do today, under circumstances that weren't maybe as good for me as they were in the second round," Djokovic reflected.
"At this age and stage in my career, every day brings something new and unpredictable for me.
"I'm hoping that I will come out at my best in a few days' time."
Osaka Advances to Wimbledon Fourth Round for the First Time
In other notable developments, Naomi Osaka reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in her career, marking a significant achievement in her ongoing comeback.
Concerns Over Doubles Competition Cutbacks
There are growing concerns among doubles players regarding potential cutbacks, with some fearing that the doubles event may be treated as a secondary attraction rather than a core component of the tournament.
Sinner Thanks Crowd and Serve for Victory
On Court One, Jannik Sinner displayed moments of brilliance to defeat world number 81 Jenson Brooksby, though he acknowledged he was not at his peak performance. The Italian, typically reserved in engaging the crowd, encouraged more noise following a spectacular net play that brought up his third match point.
"I needed that today," Sinner said of the crowd's support, "to help me over the line."
Sinner's serve was a key factor in his win, winning 87% of points on his first serve and delivering 13 aces against two double faults. His serve faltered only briefly when he was broken at the start of the third set and when serving for the match at 5-3. He responded with a 129mph ace and effectively used wide serves to challenge Brooksby, though 27 unforced errors indicated areas for improvement.
Sinner has now won all 20 of his third-round Grand Slam matches, setting a men's Open era record. He will face Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki next, who caused an upset by defeating rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar.
For further updates, live scores, results, and order of play, follow the ongoing coverage.
Stay informed with the latest tennis news delivered directly to your phone.
