LONDON — Novak Djokovic matched another Roger Federer record: 105 wins at Wimbledon.
The Serbian then joked about a sudden death challenge with the Swiss. “I propose a matchup between me and Roger. Whoever wins gets the 106,” said Djokovic with a laugh on Centre Court after defeating French player Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4).
“Let’s stop everything here and call Roger to come!” he added. Djokovic may well get to see his old rival soon enough: Federer will visit the All England Club in the coming days, as CLAY confirmed through a source close to the former world number one.
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Djokovic gave the crowd a spectacular match point. He threw himself across the grass to reach the ball, just after Rinderknech had also ended up on the ground after slipping while chasing a dropshot. “We are in the entertainment business. I think in the end of the day, you try to bring the quality for the people that pay tickets to come and watch you with your tennis,” he said.
The French player presented a game that at times gave Djokovic real trouble: “I was quite stressed.”
Rinderknech leaned on his powerful serve, won quick points with his forehand, attacked the net, changed direction and varied the pace constantly.
“I think I’ve done everything I needed to do today under circumstances that were not maybe as good for me as they were in the second round, and it was enough to win. So, at this age and this stage of my career, every day brings something really new and unpredictable for me. And I’m hoping that, yeah, in a few days’ time, I’ll come out at my best,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
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In the fourth round, Djokovic will face Russian Román Safiullin, who eliminated Joao Fonseca, the last South American remaining in the main draw.
Should he advance, he will play the winner of the match between Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and Spanish player Alejandro Davidovich.
One step closer to the main goal. The Federer record that has eluded him for the past three years — two consecutive final defeats and a semifinal exit — remains in sight: an eighth Wimbledon title to match the Swiss as the most successful men’s champion in London. A historic 25th Grand Slam.
