Djokovic reaches Wimbledon quarter-finals, breaking Federer’s men’s match-win record

Djokovic clinches 106th singles victory at Wimbledon39-year-old continues quest for 25th grand slam titleIn his quest to win a record-extending 25th grand slam title, Novak Djokovic cares only about results. How perfectly he plays holds less importance. On Sunday he was pushed hard by the Russian Roman Safiullin, and at times he cut a frustrated figure on Centre Court as his game didn’t flow the way it usually does. But for a record 106th time here, he came out on top, reaching the quarter-finals for the ninth time in a row and a 17th occasion in all. The 39-year-old has now made the quarter-finals of a major tournament 66 times.Djokovic’s 7-6 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory against Safiullin required almost three and a half hours of effort on another warm afternoon in which he was rattled at times, mostly by the performance of the Russian, who played far more like his career-high ranking of 36 than his present mark of 132. Safiullin had two set points at 5-2 in the opening set only to be edged out in a tiebreak and was good enough to take the third set before Djokovic raised his game at the start of the fourth to avoid it going to a decider. Continue reading...

Novak Djokovic enjoyed another slice of Wimbledon history as the Serbian star broke Roger Federer’s singles match-win record on Sunday. Djokovic’s 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in the fourth round took the seven-time Wimbledon champion past Federer to 106 men’s match-wins at the grass-court Grand Slam. Only Martina Navratilova (120) has won more singles matches at the All England Club across the men’s and women’s events. The 39-year-old is through to his 17th Wimbledon quarter-final and his ninth in a row. In his record-extending 66th Grand Slam quarter-final, Djokovic will play Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Spanish 22nd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Djokovic’s win kept him on course for a blockbuster semi-final showdown with defending champion Jannik Sinner, who faces Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki in the last 16 later on Sunday. “Survive to thrive, that’s how I feel. So hopefully the thriving part is coming,” Djokovic said. “Our mind wanders all the time, it’s very hard to keep it in the present moment, whoever does that is a winner. “I don’t get to feel inferior from the back of the court with too many players. Today was one of those days I didn’t want to stay in the rally for too long, to be honest, so I had to mix things up.” Djokovic has a 100 per cent record in 20 Wimbledon matches against players outside the top 100, winning all 34 matches he has played against qualifiers at the Grand Slams. After dropping a set in two of his first three matches at the All England Club this week, Djokovic again looked out of sorts at times but did enough to keep his bid for tennis immortality on track. The Serb is aiming to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles crown, which would break a tie with Margaret Court and take him level with Federer on eight Wimbledon titles. It would also make Djokovic the oldest man to win a Grand Slam in the Open era. Apologetic Djokovic Djokovic is the only man to have reached five Wimbledon men’s singles quarter-finals aged 35 or over, surpassing the record previously held by Federer. But improvements are needed from Djokovic before he can get his hands on the trophy on July 12. Safiullin is ranked a lowly 132nd and had been in dismal form before this week. The 28-year-old gave Djokovic a scare with his free-hitting style and it took the Serb three hours and 25 minutes to finally subdue him on sweltering Centre Court. Djokovic seemed troubled by his vision as he constantly rubbed at his eyes in the first set. But if Djokovic couldn’t believe what he was seeing when Safiullin moved 5-2 ahead, the Serb’s view gradually became more rosy. He hit back to force a tie-break that he won with a far more focused approach. Djokovic took a six-minute break before the start of the second set, reemerging to dominate the second set in ruthless fashion. There was a notable dip in his intensity as he lost the third set, gesticulating and grumbling as points slipped away, before a ball smashed in frustration drew boos from the crowd. “The outbursts as well, the meltdowns — I had a few of those today as well — I apologise,” he said. But Djokovic restored order in the fourth set to wrap up a hard-fought victory.

LONDON — Novak Djokovic saw Arthur Rinderknech falling toward the Centre Court net after a volley and said to himself, “Please stay down.” The Frenchman did — and 39-year-old Djokovic dove to hit a backhand volley winner on match point for a 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) record-equaling victory in the third round at Wimbledon on Friday. READ: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic set to start Wimbledon title charge Djokovic’s 105th match win at the All England Club ties Roger Federer on the men’s list for most singles match victories. Martina Navratilova won 120 singles matches at Wimbledon. By next weekend, […]...Keep on reading: Novak Djokovic earns 105th match win at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has spent the latter half of his ​glittering career equalling records set by former rival Roger Federer, and the Serb was at it again as ‌he notched up win number 105 at Wimbledon to reach the fourth round on Friday. The 39-year-old, eyeing Federer’s men’s record eight Wimbledon singles crowns, suffered a third-set wobble against dangerous Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and was pushed hard before closing out a 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6(4) Centre Court victory. Another one against Russian ​qualifier Roman Safiullin will take him to second alone on the all-time Wimbledon match win list behind only Martina ​Navratilova’s 120. “I propose a match-up between Roger and me for 106,” seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic joked in ⁠his on-court interview after celebrating the win with some “dad dancing” for his laughing daughter Tara. “Let’s just stop it here and call ​Roger to come.” Diving like a goalkeeper The way Djokovic dispatched Greece’s twice former Grand Slam runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in a round-two masterclass showed again ​that despite the passing years, there are few players who can touch him on grass. It was a similar story against 30-year-old Rinderknech for the opening two sets on a sun-bathed arena as his precision shot-making and trademark elasticity had the crowd roaring their approval and Djokovic lapping it up. At ​one point, after diving like a goalkeeper to make a volley as he served for the opening set, Djokovic, who again walked on ​wearing his Federer-esque blazer, made a bow. Rinderknech was great value though, playing his full part in an absorbing duel littered with drop shots, lobs, ‌crafty ⁠angles and some thunderous power from the tall Frenchman. Even when the 25th-seeded Rinderknech romped away with the third set, coming close to serving Djokovic his first 6-0 bagel at Wimbledon, it seemed like only a temporary diversion away from a record-extending 407th Grand Slam win. Honour to make history, Djokovic says Dialling up the power and accuracy of his serve, the entertaining Rinderknech suddenly became a real ​and present threat in a high-quality ​fourth set and Djokovic ⁠needed to play a flawless tiebreak to avoid being dragged into a decider. Fittingly, both men ended up on the deck on match point, Djokovic tumbling to put a volley into the open court. “To ​make history on this court is a huge honour and privilege,” said Djokovic, who also ​matched Federer’s record of ⁠reaching the fourth round for the 18th time. “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 is now four wins away from a record 25th Grand Slam title and from becoming the ⁠oldest player ​in the professional era to win a singles Grand Slam title. But he ​knows there are many obstacles ahead, beginning with outsider Safiullin. “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,” he said.

Djokovic will face Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in the fourth round

Djokovic dove to hit a backhand volley winner on match point for a 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) record-equaling victory in the third round at Wimbledon