Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic described reaching 100 match wins at Wimbledon as a “blessing” after sweeping aside fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in ruthless fashion.
Djokovic, 38, wasted no time in hitting the historic milestone, cruising to a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 third-round victory in just one hour and 50 minutes on Centre Court.
He becomes only the third player in history to achieve a century of Wimbledon match wins, joining legends Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer — the latter holding the all-time record with 105 victories at the All England Club.
While lifting the trophy this year would still leave Djokovic one short of Federer’s Wimbledon tally, it would take him to an unprecedented 25 Grand Slam titles — a record he has been chasing since his last major triumph at the 2023 US Open.
“Wimbledon has always been a dream tournament, not just for me but for many players,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “Growing up, it was the one we all imagined winning. I’ve been blessed to do that multiple times, and any history I make here feels extra special.”
The world number two marked the occasion with a now-traditional ‘pumping’ dance — a celebratory move he shares with his children during the tournament. He even re-enacted the dance with his daughter, who was watching from the players’ box, during his post-match speech.
Seeded sixth this year, Djokovic now moves on to face Australian 11th seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round as his quest for a record-breaking 25th major gathers steam.
A Statement Win on Centre Court
With Centre Court playing host to a ‘Sporting Saturday’ of high-profile guests, Djokovic delivered a performance worthy of the spotlight. Fresh off what he called “almost flawless tennis” against Britain’s Dan Evans in the previous round, he picked up right where he left off.
His serve was once again a weapon, as he faced just one break point throughout the match and maintained control from start to finish. Kecmanovic, ranked 49th and a Davis Cup teammate, found himself helpless against Djokovic’s precision, pace, and trademark returning prowess.
The crowd was repeatedly left in awe by Djokovic’s court coverage and shot-making, none more so than during a remarkable rally in which he fired a backhand winner while falling, drawing a standing ovation.
After claiming the first set with a single break, Djokovic dismantled Kecmanovic in the second, winning it 6-0 with a triple break of serve and barely allowing his opponent a foothold in the match.
When Kecmanovic won the opening game of the third set, breaking Djokovic’s nine-game streak, he raised a fist to the crowd — a rare moment of defiance in an otherwise one-sided contest.
The only slight wobble for Djokovic came as he attempted to serve out the match, briefly going down 15-30 amid a bit of good-natured heckling from the crowd. One fan shouted, “Don’t panic, Novak!” — a playful jab at what had otherwise been complete domination. Djokovic was broken for the first time, but responded swiftly, sealing victory on his next service game.
Title Number 25 in Sight
Djokovic’s commanding form sends a clear message to the rest of the field — he remains the man to beat on grass. A potential semi-final showdown with top seed Jannik Sinner looms, with the Italian also producing a blistering performance earlier on Saturday.
Since 2017, only defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Djokovic at Wimbledon, doing so in back-to-back finals. But with motivation high and form peaking, the Serbian legend may sense this could be his best shot at history.
If he continues at this level, Grand Slam No. 25 — and a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown — may well be within his grasp.
