Djokovic Breaks Wimbledon Record, Eyes More Grand Slam Glory/ Newswlooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Novak Djokovic advanced to Wimbledon’s third round for a record 19th time, surpassing Roger Federer. He defeated Dan Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0, marking his 99th career win at the tournament. Djokovic joked about sipping margaritas with Federer and Nadal once he retires.
Djokovic Wimbledon Record Quick Look
- Djokovic beat Dan Evans in straight sets at Wimbledon.
- He’s now reached the third round 19 times, surpassing Federer.
- This was his 99th match victory at the All England Club.
- He playfully joked about retirement and margaritas with rivals.
- Other top seeds like Swiatek and Rybakina advanced Thursday.
- Veterans Dimitrov, Struff, and Cilic also moved into Round 3.
- Alcaraz, Sabalenka, and Raducanu headline Friday’s matches.
Djokovic Sets New Wimbledon Mark, Jokes About Margaritas With Federer and Nadal
Deep Look
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic keeps rewriting tennis history—and having fun while he’s at it.
On Wednesday, the 38-year-old Serbian star reached the third round at Wimbledon for a record 19th time, defeating Britain’s Dan Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 under the roof of Centre Court. The milestone nudges him past Roger Federer for the most third-round appearances by any man in the Open era.
It also marked Djokovic’s 99th career victory at the All England Club. But in typical fashion, he downplayed the achievement while throwing playful shade at his younger rivals, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
“Nineteen times, that’s a great stat,” Djokovic said with a grin. “That’s probably almost as much as Sinner and Alcaraz have years in their lives.”
Not quite: Alcaraz, who toppled Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals, is 22. Sinner, currently ranked No. 1 and the reigning French Open champion, is 23.
As the tennis world increasingly focuses on the budding Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry, Djokovic remains determined to prove he’s still a Grand Slam contender.
“I don’t pause to reflect, to be honest. I don’t have time,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “I would like to. But I think that’s going to come probably when I set the racket aside and then sip margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything.”
He later admitted he might have spoken too soon about the beach drink.
“I don’t know why I said margaritas because I never had a margarita in my life,” he said in his news conference, laughing. “I don’t necessarily like that drink, but I guess it sounds good.”
Djokovic Finds His Groove
Against Evans, Djokovic initially struggled, failing to convert nine break points in the opening set. But once he broke for 5-3—celebrating with raised arms as if to say “finally”—he won five of his next six break opportunities and never looked back.
“You have these kinds of days where everything goes your way,” Djokovic said. “Everything flows.”
He faced his only break point of the match in the final game but held firm to close out the win.
Other Wimbledon Highlights
Women’s top seeds avoided further upsets on Thursday after a turbulent first three days. No. 7 Mirra Andreeva, 18, beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (4). No. 10 Emma Navarro defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-2.
Former No. 1 Iga Swiatek, seeking her first Wimbledon title, came from a set down to oust Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova edged Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Meanwhile, 2022 champion Elena Rybakina rolled past Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.
On the men’s side, veterans continued to shine. Alongside Djokovic, 34-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, 35-year-old Jan-Lennard Struff, and 36-year-old Marin Cilic advanced.
Cilic, a 2017 Wimbledon finalist, stunned Britain’s No. 4 seed Jack Draper 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 on No. 1 Court.
No. 11 Alex de Minaur dispatched Arthur Cazaux 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0, while Dimitrov outlasted Corentin Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
In the late match, Sinner cruised past Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.
Friday’s Matches
Friday’s lineup at the All England Club features Alcaraz against Struff on Centre Court. In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the marquee evening clash. Australian Open champion Madison Keys faces Laura Siegemund on No. 2 Court.
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