Novak Djokovic has equaled Roger Federer’s record for the most match victories at Wimbledon, reaching 105 wins on the grass courts at the All England Club. The Serbian seven-time champion secured the milestone on Thursday by defeating France’s Arthur Rinderknech in four sets, 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6, in a Centre Court encounter that showcased both resilience and occasional struggles.
Djokovic, 39, who is aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, faced a stern challenge from the 6-foot-5 French player, particularly in the third set when Rinderknech’s powerful serving allowed him to gain momentum. Despite some brief physical difficulties—including wearing shoulder tape and hitting his thigh during the match—the Serbian maintained composure to close out the contest. Djokovic described his physical condition as stable, emphasizing that the discomfort was minor and manageable.
This victory draws Djokovic level with Federer for total men's match wins at Wimbledon, who also holds seven singles titles at the tournament. In the realm of overall records at the venue, he still trails Martina Navratilova, who leads with 120 match wins. Djokovic acknowledged the significance of the achievement but remains focused on each match individually. “To be able to make history in this sport is a huge honour and privilege—especially here,” he said. “I am not thinking about 105, I am trying to win that match on a given day.” He also playfully proposed a match against Federer to decide who attains the next record.
Djokovic and Federer have faced off four times at Wimbledon, with Djokovic winning three finals and Federer prevailing once in a semi-final. The Serb continues to pursue Federer’s tally of seven Wimbledon titles and Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam singles championships, standing just one behind Federer and level with Court.
Outside of the match itself, Djokovic shared a lighter moment, revealing he had been practicing a celebratory dance routine with his daughter, though he self-critically admitted his moves did not meet her approval. “Last night, my daughter showed me a couple of dances from teenage pop groups and whatnot. We try to work on choreography. I can’t wait to go back home and ask her how I’ve done. Judging by her expression, it wasn’t super great,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Djokovic is set to face Russian Roman Safiullin in the Wimbledon next round. Safiullin advanced after defeating Joao Fonseca in straight sets, denying Djokovic a possible rematch with the Brazilian player who eliminated him from the French Open earlier this year.