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Novak Djokovic matched Roger Federer’s Wimbledon wins record and equalled another milestone after beating Arthur Rinderknech to reach the fourth round.
Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon (AP)
Novak Djokovic continued his relentless pursuit of tennis history on Friday, matching Roger Federer’s record for Wimbledon match victories after defeating France’s Arthur Rinderknech to reach the fourth round.
The 39-year-old battled past the 25th seed 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) on Centre Court to register his 105th career win at the All England Club, drawing level with Federer for the second-most Wimbledon men’s singles victories in history. A win in the fourth round would see Djokovic move ahead of the Swiss legend outright.
The victory also saw Djokovic equal another Federer milestone by reaching the Wimbledon fourth round for the 18th time in his career.
The Serbian great is chasing a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, which would see him match Federer’s tally at the grass-court major. More significantly, he is also bidding to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title — one he’s been hunting for a while now.
How Djokovic Dismantled Rinderknech
Djokovic appeared in complete control during the opening two sets, using his trademark precision and movement to keep Rinderknech at bay.
The Frenchman mounted an impressive fightback by taking the third set emphatically and pushed Djokovic deep into a fourth-set tiebreak, but the seven-time Wimbledon champion raised his level when it mattered most to seal victory.
Never one to miss an opportunity for humour, Djokovic joked about his latest achievement during his on-court interview.
“I propose a match-up between me and Roger for 106,” Djokovic said with a smile after celebrating the win with some playful dancing alongside his daughter Tara.
“Let’s just stop it here and call Roger to come.”
Djokovic’s next opponent will be Russia’s Roman Safiullin, with another slice of Wimbledon history now within touching distance.
The Serbian remains on course for a potential blockbuster semi-final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who also advanced comfortably after defeating American Jenson Brooksby in straight sets.
(with Reuters inputs)
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After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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