Novak Djokovic just hit another impressive milestone in his Wimbledon journey, battling his way to the fourth round with a tough win over Arthur Rinderknech. With this victory, the Serbian superstar tied Roger Federer’s record of 105 match wins at the Championships, solidifying his status as one of the tournament's all-time greats.
Right after the match, Djokovic lightened the atmosphere by joking that Federer should come back for a winner-takes-all showdown to determine who really holds the record. This win also keeps Djokovic's dream alive for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title as he forges ahead in his Wimbledon 2026 campaign.
During his on-court interview, Djokovic joked, “I propose a match between me and Roger, whoever wins gets it. Let’s stop it here and call Roger to come. I’m sure he’d like to take up that challenge.”
The seven-time Wimbledon champion earned the milestone after beating Arthur Rinderknech in a tense third-round clash that tested him until the final points.
How Novak Djokovic's Match Went Against Arthur Rinderknech
Djokovic has made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon after a hard-fought victory over Rinderknech, winning 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) in a match that stretched over 3 hours and 12 minutes on Centre Court. With this win, he tied Federer’s Open Era record for the most Wimbledon singles victories at 105. Djokovic kicked things off with a strong start, breaking serve at 5-5 in the first set and then holding on to take it. He carried that energy into the second set, snagging an early break and finishing it off with a blistering 125mph ace to go up two sets.
But the tide turned in the third set. Rinderknech stepped up his game, unleashing powerful serves and aggressive shots, quickly jumping to a 5-0 lead. Djokovic managed to avoid a complete shutout by winning one game, but the Frenchman wrapped up the set in just 18 minutes. The final set was a nail-biter, with neither player able to break serve, leading to a tiebreak where Djokovic showcased his best tennis when it mattered most.
Several key moments influenced the match's outcome. After losing five games in a row, Djokovic vented his frustration by punching his left thigh during a changeover to regain his focus. Later, with the tiebreak tied at 4-4, he unleashed two back-to-back aces to set up match points. The final point was a dramatic affair, with both players diving at the net and ending up on the grass, but it was Djokovic's volley that clinched the win.
The stats tell the story of how closely contested this match was. Rinderknech racked up 21 aces and 67 winners, while Djokovic had 15 aces and 40 winners. However, Djokovic kept his unforced errors to just 16, compared to Rinderknech's 25. He also won 66 percent of his second-serve points, while Rinderknech managed 59 percent. Although Rinderknech converted three out of four break points, Djokovic created more opportunities, converting three out of nine.
