Novak Djokovic marked a major career milestone on Saturday, becoming just the third player in history to record 100 match wins at Wimbledon after a commanding 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory over fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion joins an exclusive club alongside legends Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer, the latter holding the all-time record of 105 wins at the All England Club.
Speaking after his one-hour, 50-minute triumph on Centre Court, the sixth seed said:
“Wimbledon is a favourite and a dream tournament of not just myself but the majority of players.
Growing up, most kids dream of winning here and I’ve been blessed to do that many times. Any history I make in my favourite tournament… I’m blessed.”
A Family Celebration and a Ruthless Performance
To celebrate the achievement, Djokovic performed a now-traditional ‘pumping’ dance with his daughter, who was seated in his player’s box, delighting fans with a personal touch during his on-court interview.
The 38-year-old showed few signs of slowing down, blasting past world No. 49 Kecmanovic with his trademark precision and movement. Djokovic faced just one break point throughout the match and produced a flurry of breathtaking winners, including a backhand strike while off-balance that brought Centre Court to its feet in a standing ovation.
Kecmanovic, Djokovic’s Davis Cup teammate, could only briefly halt his opponent’s charge—raising a wry fist to the crowd after finally ending a nine-game streak by winning the first game of the third set.
Even when Djokovic faltered slightly while serving for the match—drawing an ironic “Don’t panic, Novak!” from one fan—he recovered with composure, breaking straight back before serving out the win on his second attempt.
Next Stop: de Minaur and Beyond
Djokovic will now face Australian 11th seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round, as he continues his quest for what would be a record-tying eighth Wimbledon title.
More significantly, victory at SW19 this year would deliver his 25th Grand Slam crown, putting him one clear of Margaret Court and alone atop the all-time list.
The path to the final could include a blockbuster semi-final clash with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who also advanced with ease on Saturday. Sinner, the only man seeded higher than Djokovic, has looked equally imperious through the first week.
The Champion Still Has More to Give
Since 2017, only Carlos Alcaraz has managed to defeat Djokovic at Wimbledon—doing so in back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024. But with Alcaraz yet to hit top gear in this year’s tournament, and Djokovic playing with renewed purpose and poise, the stars may be aligning for one final, historic run.
In what could be his last real opportunity to break more records at the All England Club, Novak Djokovic isn’t just chasing history—he’s proving he still owns the moment.