Djokovic Sets New Wimbledon Record with Quarter-final Berth
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Novak Djokovic added another milestone to his remarkable career by becoming the player with the most men’s singles match victories at Wimbledon after defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the fourth round.
The Serbian star earned a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory to register his 106th men’s singles win at the All England Club, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record. Across both men’s and women’s singles, only Martina Navratilova has recorded more Wimbledon match victories.
The win also secured Djokovic’s place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 17th time and marked his ninth consecutive appearance in the last eight of the tournament.
Another Grand Slam Milestone
Djokovic has now reached a record 66 Grand Slam singles quarter-finals, extending his lead in one of tennis’ most impressive achievements.
His next opponent will be either Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as he continues his pursuit of another Wimbledon title.
A potential semi-final meeting with defending champion Jannik Sinner also remains possible, provided both players win their respective quarter-final matches.
Speaking after the match, Djokovic reflected on the challenge of maintaining focus throughout a demanding tournament.
“Survive to thrive, that’s how I feel. Hopefully the thriving part is coming,” he said.
He also spoke about the mental aspect of competing at the highest level, noting that staying focused in the present moment is one of the biggest challenges in professional tennis.
Chasing More History
The seven-time Wimbledon champion is aiming to capture a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would move him ahead of Margaret Court’s tally and further strengthen his place in tennis history.
Victory at Wimbledon would also see Djokovic equal Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s singles titles at the tournament. In addition, he would become the oldest men’s Grand Slam singles champion of the Open Era.
Djokovic has also continued his impressive record against lower-ranked opponents, remaining unbeaten at Wimbledon against players ranked outside the world’s top 100. He has also maintained a perfect record against qualifiers in Grand Slam competition.
Safiullin Provides Tough Resistance
Despite entering the match as the underdog, Roman Safiullin produced a competitive performance and tested Djokovic throughout much of the contest.
The Russian qualifier made a strong start and built an early advantage in the opening set before Djokovic recovered to force a tie-break, which he won after raising his level at crucial moments.
Following a short break between sets, Djokovic controlled the second set with confident shot-making and consistent serving.
Safiullin responded by taking the third set as Djokovic briefly lost momentum and showed visible frustration during several rallies.
The Serbian regained control in the fourth set, however, producing a composed finish to secure victory after three hours and 25 minutes on Centre Court.
Djokovic Apologises for Emotional Moments
During the match, Djokovic displayed signs of frustration, including hitting a ball into the stands after losing a point, an action that drew a reaction from the crowd.
After the match, he acknowledged those emotional moments and apologised for his behaviour.
With another Wimbledon record now to his name, Djokovic remains firmly in contention for another Grand Slam title as the tournament enters its final stages.
