Novak Djokovic has set a new Wimbledon record with 106 wins on grass. He overtakes Roger Federer and secures his place among the tournament's legends. The Serbian now targets his 25th Grand Slam title.
Novak Djokovic has rewritten Wimbledon history by achieving his 106th career victory on the tournament's grass courts, surpassing Roger Federer's previous record of 105 wins. The Serbian star reached this milestone after defeating Roman Safiullin in four sets—7-6(6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3—during a match played in 27-degree London heat. With this result, Djokovic not only becomes the most successful male player at Wimbledon in terms of match wins, but also continues his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title, three years after his last major triumph at the US Open.
Djokovic's consistency at the All England Club is further underlined by his 17th appearance in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, including nine consecutive years among the last eight. Only Martina Navratilova, with 120 victories, has won more matches at Wimbledon. The match against Safiullin was not without tension: the Russian, who had previously eliminated Andrey Rublev, Botic Van de Zandschulp, and Joao Fonseca, led 5-2 in the opening set and held a set point, but Djokovic recovered to take the tiebreak. Safiullin also led 3-1 in the tiebreak before Djokovic turned the momentum in his favor.
After a brief pause that exceeded the standard five-minute break, Djokovic returned to the court and quickly took control, breaking Safiullin's serve in the sixth game of the second set. Despite receiving medical attention for a hip issue, Safiullin managed to claim the third set, but Djokovic dominated the fourth, closing the match with a serve-and-volley play. At 39 years and 51 days old, Djokovic becomes only the third player of that age to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals, joining Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer in this rare achievement.
Djokovic now awaits the winner of the match between Alejandro Davidovich and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Notably, Davidovich has been in the spotlight recently, as highlighted in a recent report on his campaign at the Mallorca Championships, where he aimed for his first ATP title following a strong performance in London.
Wimbledon's grass courts have long been a stage for tennis legends, with records often standing for years before being challenged. Djokovic's latest achievement not only cements his legacy at the All England Club but also adds a new chapter to the ongoing evolution of men's tennis. His ability to maintain top-level performance into his late thirties places him among the sport's most enduring figures. As the tournament progresses, attention will remain fixed on whether Djokovic can extend his record and secure another Grand Slam, further shaping the narrative of modern tennis.
