Djokovic breaks Federer record to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals
· Yahoo Sports
Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer for the most men’s singles match wins in Wimbledon history by booking a quarter-final place with a testing four-set victory over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin.
The seven-time champion has never lost a grand slam contest to a player ranked as low as world number 132, but a monumental upset briefly loomed when he faced two set points at 5-3 down in the opener.
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Djokovic recovered to edge the subsequent tie-break before responding to a third-set setback to claim a landmark 106th victory on the grass courts of the All England Club with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 success.
Nine-time women’s champion Martina Navratilova remains the only player to have won more Wimbledon singles matches, with 120.
Djokovic applauded the Centre Court crowd after reaching his 17th quarter-final in London — and ninth in a row – but stopped short of performing a customary dance for his daughter Tara.
He will face either world number four Felix Auger Aliassime or 22nd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the last eight as he bids to equal Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s singles titles.
“Survive to thrive – that’s how I feel,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview when asked to reflect on week one of the Championships.
“Hopefully the thriving part is coming!”
Djokovic had won all three previous meetings with Safiullin in straight sets and had never been beaten by a qualifier at a major.
The 39-year-old broke straight away but then failed to hold in two of his first three service games as his aggressive opponent – a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2023 – established a 5-2 lead.
Djokovic adjusted by targeting Safiullin’s backhand more consistently.
And, having battled back from the brink of dropping the opening set, he clinched it in an hour and three minutes before taking an extended break off court.
Safiullin had brushed aside rising star Joao Fonseca in straight sets to reach round four.
His hopes of causing one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history faded further when Djokovic capitalised on a fourth break point in game six of the second set to pave the way for a 2-0 advantage.
Safiullin disappeared to the changing room to regroup and responded with an early break in the third set, only for Djokovic to hit straight back after producing a perfectly weighted lob which landed on the baseline.
After receiving lengthy medical treatment on the possible recurrence of a hip injury, the 28-year-old moved 4-2 ahead by firing straight at his opponent while he was at the net.
Djokovic smashed the spare ball away in frustration, drawing boos from spectators, before his unhappiness was heightened by being taken to a fourth set.
Marat Safin is the lowest-ranked player to defeat the Serbian star at Wimbledon, having done so as world number 75 in 2008.
Djokovic ensured that remains the case after he sealed a hard-fought victory in three hours and 26 minutes with a deft volley.
“I don’t get to feel inferior from the back of the court against too many players throughout my career,” said the seventh seed, who apologised for his emotional outbursts during the match.
“In the end, I managed to find the accuracy and precision on my first serve, which really got me out of trouble in the fourth set.”