Djokovic overtakes Federer for most Wimbledon wins as he grinds into the quarter-finals
The Serbian's four-set win over qualifier Roman Safiullin was his record 106th match victory at the All England Club, though the milestone left him unmoved.
Novak Djokovic moved past Roger Federer into sole possession of the record for most men's singles match wins at Wimbledon on Sunday, though the landmark came the hard way. The 39-year-old needed four sets to see off 132nd-ranked qualifier Roman Safiullin, 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, on Centre Court to reach the quarter-finals for the 17th time.
It was his 106th victory at the All England Club, one clear of Federer and second only to Rafael Nadal's 112 wins at Roland Garros among men at any single major. Martina Navratilova's 120 Wimbledon wins remain the outright record.
The seven-time champion was made to work. Safiullin, who had never beaten a player of Djokovic's standing, held two set points at 5-3 in the opener before Djokovic clawed back to take the tie-break, then recovered from dropping the third set. The match was not without friction. Djokovic was warned for an outburst in Serbian, drew boos after swatting a ball away in frustration, and later apologised on court for what he called "the outbursts, the meltdowns."
The record itself did little to move him. "Not on my priority list," Djokovic said. "Didn't even know about it until after the last match win. That's really quite insignificant to me at the moment." His sights are set higher: an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Federer, and a record 25th Grand Slam singles crown.
Next he faces either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. "Survive to thrive, that's how I feel," he said after three hours and 26 minutes on court. "So hopefully the thriving part is coming."
