LONDON – Novak Djokovic added another record to his name by winning Dan Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 on Centre Court on Wednesday, reaching Wimbledon’s third round.
This was Djokovic’s 99th match across Wimbledon, and in his third appearance of the 19th, every man in the open era showed him one ahead of Roger Federer.
For Djokovic, there are few records of the most prestigious. Djokovic is the most male players with 24 grand slam titles, including Wimbledon’s seven. But he could at least use it to enjoy his new, much younger, major rival.
“Nineteenth time, that’s a great statistic,” said Djokovic, 38. “That’s probably about the same as the sinners and Alcarazs have in their lives for years.”
Well, that’s not the case at all.
Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Djokovic in the last two Wimbledon finals, is 22 years old, while Giannik Sinner, who played first place on the centre court, is 23 years old.
The growing competition between the sinners and Alcaraz helped tennis move on from the Big Three era, especially in the wake of the five-set final at the French Open last month.
But Djokovic is too focused on proving that he still can win another slam and look back at everything he has accomplished at Wimbledon.
“To be honest, I won’t pause to reflect. I don’t have time,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview. “I want to, but I think it’ll probably come when I put my racket aside and take a sip of my margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal.
Against Evans, Djokovic was unable to convert the first nine breakpoints in the first set. But when he got a 5-3 lead breakthrough, he lifted his arms into the air as if to say “finally” – he went 5-6 at breakpoints for the rest of the day.
“You have these kinds of days where everything goes your way,” said Djokovic, who didn’t face his own breakpoint until the final match. “It all flows.”
Also, in the men’s draw, Alex de Minauru, who was 115th, expelled Arthur Kazauks, who was 115th.