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Djokovic equals Federer’s Wimbledon wins record with four-set victory

Djokovic outlasted Arthur Rinderknech in four sets to tie Roger Federer on 105 Wimbledon men's singles wins and move into the last 16.

Marcus Williams··2 min read
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Djokovic equals Federer’s Wimbledon wins record with four-set victory
Source: BBC Sport

Novak Djokovic pushed past 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) on Centre Court on Friday, 3 July 2026, to reach the Wimbledon fourth round and equal Roger Federer’s record of 105 men’s singles match wins at the tournament. The 39-year-old Serbian kept his grip on another slice of tennis history even after Rinderknech dragged him into a fourth-set tiebreak, extending the run of late-career milestones that have defined Djokovic’s Wimbledon campaigns.

The victory left Djokovic level with Federer on the men’s singles mark, while Martina Navratilova remains the overall Wimbledon match-wins leader with 120. Djokovic is now within striking distance of an eighth Wimbledon men’s singles title, which would move him past Federer’s total of eight, and he remains in pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam singles title. At this stage of his career, the scoreboard has become part of the story every time Djokovic steps onto the grass: each round carries the possibility of another record, another tie, or another precedent broken.

AI-generated illustration
AI-generated illustration

Rinderknech, whose serving and variety repeatedly tested Djokovic, briefly changed the rhythm of the match when he took the third set 6-1. Djokovic responded by tightening his level in the fourth and closing out the contest in the tiebreak, where he steadied himself at the decisive points. The result underlined how often Djokovic still manufactures wins in the moments when matches turn on nerve rather than pace or shot-making.

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Novak Djokovic — Wikimedia Commons
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Afterward, Djokovic said making history in the sport was a “huge honour” and “privilege.” Wimbledon has long been one of the defining targets of his career, and this latest win kept him on course for another deep run at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Rinderknech had previously gone beyond the second week of a Grand Slam only once, reaching the last 16 at the 2025 US Open, but against Djokovic he could not turn the momentum from the third set into a breakthrough.

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