Seventh seed Novak Djokovic matches Roger Federer’s historic record of 105 Wimbledon wins after overcoming Arthur Rinderknech in a four-set Centre Court thriller.
Introduction:
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic displayed his legendary fighting spirit on Centre Court, overcoming a massive third-set wobble to secure his place in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2026. The Serbian superstar had to dig incredibly deep to hold off a spectacular, power-hitting display from French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech, finally closing out a thrilling 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) victory.
The high-stakes triumph carries massive historical weight. By securing his passage into the second week, the 39-year-old Novak Djokovic recorded his 105th singles match victory at the All England Club, drawing level with his great former rival Roger Federer for the most men’s singles wins in tournament history. See also: Flawless Djokovic Romps Past Tsitsipas in 98 Minutes
Red-Hot Start Before a Shocking Third-Set Drop
The match began with a highly tactical battle under the London sunshine. Facing the towering 6-foot-5 Frenchman for the very first time, Novak Djokovic spent the opening frames adjusting to his opponent’s thunderous delivery. Rinderknech blasted a total of 21 aces and 67 winners across the afternoon, consistently dragging the Serbian out of his comfort zone.
However, Novak Djokovic’s elite return game made the crucial breakthrough late in both opening sets. Showing masterclass precision, the seventh seed executed vital breaks of serve to take a commanding two-set lead.
Just when a straight-sets victory seemed certain, the match took an absolute turn. Djokovic suffered a severe drop in concentration, falling behind 5-0 in a matter of minutes as Rinderknech began hitting with complete freedom. The Frenchman completely dominated the intermediate chapter, taking the third set 6-1 to stun the Centre Court crowd.
Flawless Tiebreak Seals a Dramatic Diving Finish
The fourth set transformed into a high-quality baseline war of attrition with neither player willing to yield an inch on serve. With tension boiling over, the set naturally marched into a high-stakes tiebreak.
Once inside the shootout, Novak Djokovic unlocked his trademark big-match focus. He played what he described as a “flawless tiebreak,” finding his spots perfectly to build a crucial lead.
The final point provided an unforgettable visual highlight. Both players ended up splayed flat on the grass as Djokovic executed a spectacular, diving backhand volley into the open court to seal the match. The Serbian moves into the last 16, where a clash against Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin awaits.
