Nole has become just the 3rd player to record 100 match-wins at Wimbledon, after 9-time champion Martina Navratilova and 8-time champion Roger Federer.
The all-Serbian third-round match at Wimbledon went to Novak Djokovic, who beat the 13-years-younger Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday evening with a dominant 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory. With this triumph, Novak reached his 100th career win at the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.
The match lasted just one hour and 47 minutes. Novak showed once again that he’s in great form and easily booked his place in the fourth round.
Just like in his earlier matches at this year’s tournament, Djokovic served really well.
The first set lasted 40 minutes. The key moment came in the eighth game when the sixth seed broke Kecmanovic’s serve and went up 5-3. He then held serve to win the set 6-3. Novak hit 22 winners and made just six unforced errors in this set.
The second set was one-sided. The seven-time Wimbledon champion completely dominated, winning six games in a row – for a “bagel” 6-0. He won 24 points in that set, while Kecmanovic took just seven. Novak hit 13 winners and made only two errors.
In the third set, there was a bit of drama. Djokovic went up 5–1 with two breaks but let his opponent come back to 5-4. Still, Djokovic held his nerve and served out the match with no problem, winning in straight sets.
“I am very grateful, privileged to be in the position that I am,” Djokovic said when asked about his 100th win. “I have said it many times. Tennis made me who I am. It has given me things in life that I can experience. I try not to take anything for granted, particularly at this age. I’m still going strong, trying to compete with the young players and do some slides and some splits on the court. Wimbledon is a favourite tournament and dream tournament of not just myself but probably the majority of tennis players. Growing up most of the kids dream of playing here and winning here and I am blessed to have done it multiple times. Any history that I make at my favourite tournament, I am blessed.”
In the next round on Monday, Novak will face Alex de Minaur (2-1 H2H), the no.11 seed from Australia.
Photo: AP
