Djokovic ties Federer, and French tennis vanishes from Wimbledon

A spectacular match point on Centre Court

On July 3, 2026, on Wimbledon's legendary Centre Court, Novak Djokovic watched his French opponent Arthur Rinderknech tumble toward the net after a volley, and thought to himself, according to ESPN: "Stay down, please." The Frenchman stayed down, and the 39-year-old Serb dove to punch a winning backhand volley on match point, sealing a 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) victory at the end of a tense third-round match.

This victory was not just any win: it was Djokovic's 105th singles win in the tournament's history, matching the men's record previously held by his great rival Roger Federer. A number that, on its own, sums up two decades of dominance on London grass.

One hundred five wins, two legends, a single mark

According to the Straits Times, this 105th win now puts Novak Djokovic in a perfect tie with Roger Federer atop the all-time list of men's singles wins at Wimbledon. Only Martina Navratilova, with 120 wins in women's singles, still sits ahead of both men on the tournament's overall all-time list.

Djokovic himself savored the moment with humility and humor, saying according to ESPN: "To be able to mark history in this sport is a huge honor and a huge privilege," before mischievously adding that he would propose "a match between him and Roger for win number 106," a joke that underscores the mutual respect between the two champions despite years of intense rivalry.

Roman Safiullin, the next step toward standing alone in history

According to the Straits Times, one more win for Djokovic against Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin would move him alone into second place on Wimbledon's all-time list, just behind Martina Navratilova and ahead of Roger Federer for good. It would be the first time in his career he held this record outright, without sharing it with his former Swiss rival.

The Serb is also chasing the men's record of eight Wimbledon singles titles, currently held by Federer, a goal that, according to Wikipedia, would make him the first player in history to win a twenty-fifth career Grand Slam title.

Rinderknech, the surprise that shook Centre Court

Arthur Rinderknech gave up nothing easily in this third-round match, even winning the third set 6-1 before falling in a fourth set that went all the way to a tiebreak, according to Punto de Break. The French player, described as "dangerous" by the Straits Times, pushed the Serb to his absolute limit before falling 7-6 (4) in the deciding set.

This performance from Rinderknech, while not enough to pull off the upset, confirms his potential on grass, a surface where he had already caused a sensation the previous year by eliminating Alexander Zverev in the first round, according to The Hindu.

A collective elimination within 48 hours

Arthur Rinderknech's loss marked the end of French presence in men's singles at Wimbledon 2026, following the successive eliminations of several other French players, including Valentin Royer, beaten by Alexander Zverev according to The Hindu. No French player, man or woman, therefore qualified for the round of sixteen this year.

This total absence at the round-of-sixteen stage fits into a broader trend observed over several seasons at Grand Slam tournaments, where French presence in the advanced stages of major competitions has gradually thinned out compared to previous decades.

The paradox of a French tennis pool deep in talent but poor in results

French men's tennis actually has a relatively large and competitive pool of players on tour, but it visibly struggles to turn that depth into meaningful results on the particular surface of London grass. The combination of a short grass-court preparation calendar and increasingly tough international competition makes the task harder for French players every year.

This reality contrasts with past decades, when French players more regularly reached the quarterfinals or semifinals of major tournaments, a reminder that sporting dominance in elite tennis is never automatically sustained from one generation to the next.

Surprises and confirmations in the men's draw

Wimbledon 2026's men's draw was also marked by the early elimination of several seeded players, including fourth seed Ben Shelton, according to The Hindu, which opened up a clearer path for players like Alexander Zverev, positioned in the half of the draw opposite Djokovic's. This setup is fueling speculation about a potentially unprecedented final if both men continue their runs.

Meanwhile, Djokovic continues a remarkable streak of 21 consecutive years without a first-round loss at Wimbledon, according to Wikipedia, becoming in the process the first player of the Open era to win more than 80 combined first-round matches across every Grand Slam tournament.

A rivalry transformed into mutual admiration

The relationship between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer has changed considerably since the Swiss star's retirement in 2022. What was, for more than a decade, one of the most intense rivalries in the history of sport has turned into publicly displayed mutual respect, as shown by Djokovic's joke about a fictional match for win number 106.

This kind of moment, where a still-active athlete humorously pays tribute to a retired rival by invoking a shared record, illustrates the maturity of a generation of champions who have gradually learned to celebrate their own achievements without belittling the opponents who helped shape their own greatness.

Djokovic writes history while France searches for answers

This Wimbledon 2026 third round will be remembered as a double-edged moment for French tennis: on one side, the pride of watching one of its players push Novak Djokovic to a fourth-set tiebreak in pursuit of one of the most prestigious records in world tennis; on the other, the cold reality of a total wipeout of French colors before the round of sixteen had even begun.

For Djokovic, history keeps being written at a pace few would have expected from a 39-year-old player, with an imminent showdown against Roman Safiullin that could push him alone into second place on the tournament's all-time list.

What this moment reveals about the state of world tennis

This contrast between Djokovic's exceptional longevity and French tennis's incomplete generational renewal illustrates the enduring difficulty of predicting how a demanding individual sport will evolve, where experience and physical preparation can still triumph over youth, as this extraordinary Serbian champion demonstrates every season.

An appointment not to be missed in the coming days

Djokovic's next match against Roman Safiullin promises to draw even greater worldwide attention, with every additional win for the Serb bringing him closer to potentially finishing his career as the most decorated player in the history of men's tennis on London grass. Tennis fans, French or not, would do well to follow what happens next closely.

By Maxime Marquette, columnist

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