In a gripping encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, Novak Djokovic showcased his remarkable resilience, evoking memories of a young Boris Becker as he executed a spectacular diving backhand lob volley at match point. Arthur Rinderknech, his opponent, found himself sprawled on the court after slipping at the net, while the 15,000-strong crowd at Centre Court erupted in applause, recognizing they were part of a first-week classic.
Despite his less-than-stellar grass court record of 15 wins against 18 losses, Rinderknech brought his A-game, having previously defeated Alexander Zverev at last year’s Wimbledon. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, with a booming serve and surprisingly deft touch, he proved to be a formidable challenge for Djokovic.
In a surprising twist, Rinderknech outperformed Djokovic in several key statistics: he won 117 points to Djokovic’s 108, served 21 aces compared to Djokovic’s 15, and hit a whopping 67 winners against Djokovic’s 40. Nevertheless, the Serbian star managed to secure a victory in this third-round match, finishing with scores of 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4).
After the match, Djokovic expressed his relief at finally clinching the win. “Well, I saw him slip and fall down, so I was thinking: ‘Please, just stay down’ for that last shot. I am just really relieved to come through.” he said.
Following Djokovic’s impressive second-round triumph over Stefanos Tsitsipas, speculation has intensified that this tournament could be his last opportunity to achieve the coveted milestone of 25 Grand Slam titles, putting him ahead of Margaret Court in the all-time rankings.
This theory holds water as Carlos Alcaraz is sidelined due to injury, Jannik Sinner is struggling, and Alexander Zverev has a poor track record on grass. Yet, for Djokovic to realize this goal, the 39-year-old must conserve his energy for the challenges that lie ahead, and this exhausting match was not ideal.
“But that was also to do with his quality. He is very tall, he hits incredible serves and he deserves a round of applause for his performance, no doubt. “I’ve never faced him before so obviously I was coming into the match knowing that I was facing someone who is already a top player and doesn’t have much to lose,” he added. “Last year, he beat Zverev on Centre Court, so he clearly loves the big stage and he doesn’t get overwhelmed by the occasion. He showed that today. Rinderknech is famed for his big serve, but on the opening point of the match he displayed his subtlety with a drop shot that Djokovic didn’t even bother to chase down as he won the first game to love. Yet Djokovic appeared to have worked his opponent out and at two sets up, looked in full control. However Rinderknech had other ideas. He broke at the start of the third, and again when the Serb lost his balance and splayed another shot wide. Incredibly, after 12 minutes of the third set, Djokovic was 5-0 down and staring at his first-ever bagel on grass. And those spectators who popped out at the end of the second set to top up their Pimms would have missed the entire thing. “There was a lot of slipping and sliding, drop shots, and cat and mouse play,”
Rinderknech is renowned for his powerful serve, but he surprised everyone at the start of the match with a deft drop shot that Djokovic didn’t even attempt to chase as he secured the first game without dropping a point. However, after taking a two-set lead, Djokovic seemed to have the match under control.
Yet, Rinderknech had other plans. He broke Djokovic at the beginning of the third set and capitalized on a moment when Djokovic lost his balance, leaving him trailing 5-0 within just 12 minutes of the set. Spectators who left their seats for refreshments during the second set missed the entire turnaround.
“He has that variety because he has a big powerful game. He was also changing the pace, so he took me out of my comfort zone. I’m just really relieved to come through this one.” Djokovic reflected. “To be able to make history of this sport is a huge honour and privilege, and particularly here,”
The highly competitive fourth set saw no breaks, ultimately leading to a tie-break. By this stage, the crowd was fully engaged, divided in their support as the score reached 4-4. Djokovic managed to take a 5-4 lead, but as the match clock surpassed three hours, Rinderknech’s composure faltered, resulting in a wide forehand error.
With the crowd erupting in cheers, Djokovic savored the moment. This victory not only propelled him forward but also equaled Roger Federer’s record of 105 men’s singles wins, leaving only Martina Navratilova with more at 120.
“I am not interested in 105 or 106, I am just trying to win that match on a given day. I was quite stressed out. I had more tension than usual. But sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and I’m happy I did that today.” Djokovic commented. “I am not interested in 105 or 106, I am just trying to win that match on a given day. I was quite stressed out. I had more tension than usual. But sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and I’m happy I did that today.”
Once again, Djokovic faced adversity but ultimately triumphed. A challenging match against the powerful Russian, Roman Safiullin, awaits on Sunday. For now, Djokovic’s pursuit of his 25th Grand Slam title continues unabated.
