Novak Djokovic secured the all-time record for the most men's singles match wins in Wimbledon history by defeating Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
The 39-year-old Serbian advanced to his 17th Wimbledon quarterfinal with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory on Centre Court, marking his 106th career win at the tournament.
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The win broke a tie with Swiss legend Roger Federer, who retired with 108 wins and eight titles.
Djokovic now trails the absolute tournament record of 120 wins held by nine-time women's singles champion Martina Navratilova.
Djokovic struggled with visible frustration and an apparent eye issue early in the three-hour contest.
He received a warning for an audible obscenity and narrowly avoided a penalty after hitting a ball to the back of the court.
"Survive to thrive - that's how I feel," said Djokovic, reflecting on his performances in the first week.
The second-seeded Serb entered the match as the clear favorite against the 132nd-ranked Safiullin, who had previously achieved a career-best quarterfinal run at the tournament in 2023.
"Hopefully the thriving part is coming!" added Djokovic.
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Safiullin required a medical timeout for a left-leg injury during the third set.
He managed to claim his first-ever set against Djokovic across four tour-level meetings before fading in the final frame.
"I'm known for my outbursts and meltdowns, I had a few of those today so I apologise," said Djokovic regarding his on-court behavior.
The victory keeps Djokovic on track for a potential semifinal matchup against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
His immediate quarterfinal opponent will be either third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
"Our mind wanders all the time. It is very hard to keep it in the present moment.
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Whoever manages to do that is the winner," said Djokovic.
