Novak Djokovic set a new men’s record for the most match wins at Wimbledon by securing his 106th victory at the All England Club on Sunday, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous mark. The seven-time Wimbledon champion advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over 132nd-ranked qualifier Roman Safiullin in a contest that tested the Serb’s resilience.
Despite the milestone, Djokovic downplayed its significance, emphasizing that it is not a priority compared to his broader goals at Wimbledon. With seven titles already, he aims to equal Federer’s record of eight championships and become the first man or woman to capture 25 major singles trophies. The victory also marked Djokovic’s 17th appearance in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, one shy of Federer’s record at this stage.
Djokovic’s performance was marked by moments of frustration, including audible outbursts and a warning for swearing after being broken in the third set. He apologized during his on-court interview for what he called “meltdowns.” Facing unexpected pressure, particularly from Safiullin’s long rally play, Djokovic adapted by moving to the net more frequently — a rare tactical shift for the baseline specialist. This adjustment proved effective, allowing him to seize momentum and close out the match decisively.
Looking ahead, Djokovic is set to face third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals. The Canadian advanced following a dramatic five-set victory against 22nd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Auger-Aliassime triumphed 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1 after a grueling encounter that featured one of the tournament’s standout points, highlighted by Davidovich Fokina’s extraordinary defensive play. Auger-Aliassime described the match as a career highlight, noting its emotional intensity and physical demands.
In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka exited in the fourth round after a 6-2, 7-6 (2) loss to Naomi Osaka. The match, featuring two players with four Grand Slam titles apiece, did not reach the anticipated competitive heights as Osaka dominated the encounter. Sabalenka struggled with the pace and depth of Osaka’s shots and showed signs of frustration on court, including racket tosses and vocal reactions.
Following the defeat, Sabalenka acknowledged her performance was below par and expressed frustration over her continued failure to capture a Wimbledon title. She reflected on prior setbacks at the tournament and revealed the mental challenges faced during the season, including contemplating retirement after other recent defeats. Despite retaining her top ranking after Wimbledon, Sabalenka said the position held little importance for her at this moment, indicating a desire to take a break to recover mentally and physically.
Both Djokovic and Sabalenka now look ahead to the next phases of the tournament with different challenges, as Djokovic seeks to sustain his momentum toward further records, while Sabalenka reevaluates her approach after another early exit.