Novak Djokovic cemented his Wimbledon legacy Thursday by becoming the first male player in the Open Era to reach the tournament's third round for a 19th time. The Serbian star defeated Britain's Dan Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 on Centre Court, marking his 99th career Wimbledon victory.
This milestone surpasses Roger Federer's previous record of 18 third-round appearances. While Djokovic already holds the men's Grand Slam title record with 24 trophies – including seven Wimbledon championships – the 37-year-old showed no signs of slowing down. 'Nineteen times, that's a great stat,' Djokovic quipped. 'That's probably almost as much as Sinner and Alcaraz have years in their lives.'
The match saw Djokovic overcome initial challenges, converting his 10th break point opportunity to claim the first set. From there, he dominated proceedings, winning 11 of the final 13 games. When asked about reflecting on his achievements, Djokovic remained focused on future goals: 'I don't pause to reflect, to be honest. 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.'
As Wimbledon progresses, all eyes remain on the four-time defending champion's quest for an eighth title at the All England Club. This performance reinforces Djokovic's status as a formidable contender despite competition from younger rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
