Djokovic Strengthens Wimbledon Legacy with 105th Victory as Sinner Gains Momentum

Novak Djokovic achieved yet another milestone at the All England Club, advancing to the fourth round of Wimbledon with his 105th victory on Friday. The 39-year-old Serbian, aiming for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and a 25th Grand Slam title, defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech with a score of 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4). Meanwhile, top seed Jannik Sinner demonstrated his growing confidence in defending his title by overpowering American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic’s Vintage Performance

Djokovic’s match showcased his trademark skill and resilience. After taking the first two sets, he faced an unexpected challenge in the third set, where Rinderknech surged back, nearly handing Djokovic a rare 6-0 defeat in a set at Wimbledon. The fourth set proved to be a nail-biter, requiring Djokovic to execute a flawless tiebreak to secure his victory. His performance drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd, highlighting his enduring prowess on the grass courts.

Djokovic’s next opponent will be Roman Safiullin, who is currently ranked 25th. With this match, Djokovic has the opportunity to surpass Roger Federer on the all-time list for most Wimbledon match wins, having drawn level with him on Friday.

Sinner’s Steady Ascent

Jannik Sinner, the world number one, has shown marked improvement since his initial round scare against Miomir Kecmanovic. He displayed a commanding performance against Brooksby, indicating that he is finding his footing on grass. Sinner noted, “Trying to move better. Return today was a little bit better. So all things considered, today was a small step forward.” He will next face Shintaro Mochizuki, ranked 151st, and will not encounter a seeded player until the semi-finals.

Rising Stars and Established Contenders

While Djokovic and Sinner captured much of the attention, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced quietly, defeating American Michael Zheng 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-1. He is set to meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the next round.

In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka moved into the last 16 with a straightforward victory over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, winning 6-4, 6-4. Sabalenka’s upcoming challenge will be against Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who reached the last 16 for the first time after defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3.

Coco Gauff, another prominent player, managed to scrape through to the fourth round, overcoming fellow American Claire Liu 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, despite facing match points in the second set.

Young Talent Faces Reality Check

The tournament saw the exit of two promising 19-year-olds in the men’s draw. Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, seeded 24th, lost to Roman Safiullin, while Spain’s Rafael Jodar fell to Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Fonseca was outplayed 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, while Jodar lost 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4.

Medvedev’s Early Exit

Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev, who could have faced Sinner in the quarter-finals, was eliminated by Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in a closely contested match that ended 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 7-5.

Sabalenka’s match against Ostapenko was anticipated to be a thrilling encounter, but she secured a relatively routine win. Sabalenka acknowledged Ostapenko’s capabilities, stating, “She is really dangerous. Last match I played against her, I couldn’t do anything, she just smashed me off the court.” She emphasized her goal of improving with each match on the grass.

Upcoming Challenges

As the tournament progresses, Sabalenka will need to elevate her game against Osaka. “I’m ready to fight and do whatever it takes to get through,” she remarked.

American fourth seed Jessica Pegula continued her strong performance, defeating Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while 11th seed Belinda Bencic required a deciding set tiebreak to overcome Anna Kalinskaya.

Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning champion, advanced past Nikola Bartunkova with a score of 6-3, 7-5. She will next face 10th seed Karolina Muchova, who eliminated Thai player Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-2, 7-6(1).

For further details, refer to the report on www.arnnewscentre.ae.

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Published on 2026-07-04 09:42:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk