Djokovic sharpens his fangs to devour Wimbledon

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 3 Jul 2026 | 17.57

Novak Djokovic defeats Rinderknech at Wimbledon 2026. Photo: gettyimages

Streaming W100 Cary live tennis

🎾 Ena Koike vs Tatum Evans

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

Novak Djokovic secured a spot in the Wimbledon 2026 round of 16 after a commendable and hard-fought victory against Arthur Rinderknech. The French player put up a tough fight, but eventually surrendered to a living legend who continues to improve with every match played. The final result was 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6 (4) in favor of Djokovic, who will now face Roman Safiullin.

Every match is an adventure of unpredictable fate and thrilling script. This is how Novak Djokovic faces all encounters on grand stages: with a mix of enjoyment for what is fleeting, self-imposed maximum pressure because he will always be a legend and a fierce competitor, and a desire to win perfectly complemented by the desire to entertain. The Serbian knew it would be challenging to defeat Arthur Rinderknech in the third round of Wimbledon 2026 and he acted with utmost concentration throughout a match filled with nuances.

Djokovic started the first set with full focus, aware of the danger that a player like Rinderknech poses on this surface. If allowed to dominate, the Frenchman can set a pace of aggressive shots that disrupt the flow of the match. The Frenchman struggled with his first serves, and Djokovic found a good intensity from the baseline, being aggressive yet consistent, moving his opponent and exerting pressure on the return. This led to two breaks, one of which was neutralized, with the second break being decisive in giving Djokovic the lead.

In the second set, any surprise chances for the Frenchman relied on improving his serving performance and taking risks from the baseline during rallies. However, nothing seemed to distract Djokovic, who displayed moments of magic at the net while asserting his authority through hard work from the baseline, good footwork, and tactical clarity in his attacks and defenses. Arthur's errors piled up against the resistance of his opponent, and he lost serve without finding many opportunities to recover from that disadvantage.

Djokovic experienced a disconnect in the third set but recovered with character and mastery

Suddenly, everything changed. In a clear sign of the passage of time and its consequences on Djokovic, he experienced a complete disconnect. He seemed sluggish, lacking intensity and concentration, with his shots lacking power, and Rinderknech strolled around the court during a third set worthy of study and unimaginable in the Balkan player a few years ago. It is not catastrophic for a man nearing 40 to have these level valleys as his main setbacks, especially if they do not prolong too much.

With determination, Djokovic stepped onto the court for a fourth set that seemed crucial in determining whether the issue was isolated or if there was a serious risk of the match changing direction. Rinderknech took advantage of the acquired confidence to play more aggressively, approach the net with better support, and withstand attacks from the baseline with renewed energy and the motivation of knowing he had real chances of victory. An intense battle unfolded, with both players showcasing the best moments of their tennis, where serving dominated, preventing any chance of a breakthrough from the return.

The exchange of shots was highly even and led to a tiebreak where both demonstrated strong serving. However, in the crucial moments, Djokovic's legendary intangibles emerged, gaining confidence for the rest of the tournament and honoring tennis with another display of power. A wolf roams free in Wimbledon 2026 and howls with increasing hunger. He is four matches away from glory.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic afila el colmillo para devorar Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic