Novak Djokovic’s recent Wimbledon win puts Roger Federer’s nine-year record in real danger.
Novak Djokovic is really close to breaking Roger Federer’s Wimbledon record after making it to the fourth round on Friday. The 39-year-old looked like he had an easy win in straight sets against Arthur Rinderknech on Centre Court, taking the first two sets 7-5 and 6-4.
But Rinderknech fought back hard, winning the third set 6-1 and almost making a big comeback. Djokovic had to work hard in the fourth set and finally won the tie-break 7-4, wiping sweat from his brow.
After smooth wins against Wu Yibing and Stefanos Tsitsipas earlier, this match was much tougher for the seven-time Wimbledon champ. And even bigger challenges might be coming soon.
Djokovic is trying to become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam in the Open era by winning his eighth Wimbledon title, after losing in last year’s semi-finals to Jannik Sinner. If he wins again at SW19, he’ll also move ahead of Federer in the world rankings at No. 8.
He’s also close to breaking another record Federer holds: the most wins in Wimbledon men’s singles matches, which is 105. Djokovic’s win over Rinderknech has tied him with Federer, and he can take the lead by beating Roman Safiullin in the next round.
Safiullin, who just easily beat Joao Fonseca, will be a tough opponent, but Djokovic is confident since he has won all three of their past matches. Their last meeting was at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, where Djokovic won 6-3, 6-2 before losing to Sinner in the final.
With 25 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic knows this is a big moment. Here’s a list of the top 10 players with the most Wimbledon men’s singles wins as of July 3, 2026. Known as one of the greatest players ever, Djokovic can add to his legacy by reaching his 21st Wimbledon quarter-final and finally surpassing Federer’s win record.
Turning 40 next year, Djokovic’s amazing stay at the top of tennis is something we might not see again for a long time. That’s why many believe he’s truly a step above the rest when it comes to all-time records.