Djokovic within one of Federer’s record, Sinner grinds through

One hundred and four. That is the number that hung over Centre Court on Wednesday evening as Novak Djokovic walked off, blazer on, crowd on its feet, one win away from equalling the most extraordinary individual record in men’s tennis history. Roger Federer’s 105 Wimbledon match wins — accumulated between 1999 and 2021, eight titles and an era of such dominance this surface felt tailored for him — stands as arguably the most unassailable landmark in the sport. On Day 3, the 39-year-old Serbian moved to within touching distance of it.

London, England: Wednesday at Wimbledon delivered the clarity the draw demanded. The contenders announced themselves, an old rivalry was settled emphatically once more, and the defending champion showed he is growing into the tournament exactly as he needs to. Day 3 of the 2026 Championships belonged to the headline names — and none more so than the man chasing a ghost.

Read More: Wimbledon 2026 Day 2 Men’s Results: Zverev, Shelton, Wawrinka | SportsNewz

Djokovic: Vintage, Clinical, Unstoppable

If anyone needed reminding what Novak Djokovic looks like when he is completely in command, Wednesday provided the answer. Djokovic dismantled Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 38 minutes on Centre Court — an exhibition of grass-court mastery from a 39-year-old playing in just his fifth tour-level event of the season and stepping onto grass for the first time in 2026.

The result extended Djokovic’s unbeaten record against Tsitsipas to 12 consecutive matches — the 12th and most decisive of which the Greek never truly threatened to influence. Tsitsipas squandered two smash opportunities in the second set at a crucial moment, the turning point that opened the door for Djokovic to break and never look back. He won eight of the final ten games, finished with 24 winners to Tsitsipas’ 24 unforced errors, and spoke on court afterwards with the contentment of a man who knows exactly what he is doing here.

“I like the terminology ‘vintage’, it’s nice,” Djokovic said, smiling, after his 104th Wimbledon singles win. “It brings back the best days. Obviously you feel very happy and satisfied on the court when you’re playing this way.” The win moves him to within one victory of Federer’s all-time Wimbledon record — a milestone that, if reached, would represent one final chapter in the sport’s greatest rivalry, contested without a single ball between them. Djokovic faces 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech in the third round.

ALSO READ: Wimbledon 2026 Day 1 Men’s Results: Sinner, Djokovic, Medvedev | SportsNewz

Sinner: Two Tiebreaks, No Drops

The defending champion was made to work on Wednesday — but not to worry. Jannik Sinner defeated Portugal’s Nuno Borges 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 in a match that was tighter than the scoreline suggests, particularly across the first two sets where Borges’ heavy serve and clean ball-striking pushed the world No. 1 deep into tiebreaks. Sinner was clinical when it mattered — winning the first tiebreak 7-4 and the second 7-2 — before breaking Borges twice in the third set to close it out more comfortably.

The performance showed both Sinner’s resilience — a natural evolution from the five-set escape against Kecmanović on Day 1 — and the growing confidence of his serve and forehand on a surface that demands directness above all. The defending champion heads into the third round with momentum building, just as he needs it.

The Great Fonseca March Continues

One of the tournament’s most compelling sub-plots continued to develop on Day 3. Nineteen-year-old João Fonseca, who had already beaten Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round, defeated Jesper de Jong 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career. The Brazilian teenager — who made the Roland Garros quarter-finals earlier this summer — is playing with a freedom and fearlessness that belongs to a player with nothing to lose and everything to gain. He faces 23rd seed Rafael Jódar in the third round. The sport has been searching for the next great young star since Alcaraz emerged. At these Championships, Fonseca is making a compelling case.

Medvedev Recovers, Cobolli Grinds, Tiafoe and Paul Advance

Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev endured an uncomfortable opening set against Spaniard Daniel Mérida before finding his range for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 comeback win — a reminder that the former US Open champion, who is yet to go beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon, is dangerous when he settles into the tournament’s rhythm. Third seed Félix Auger-Aliassime was smoother in dispatching Dino Prižmič 7-6(2), 6-3, 7-5, while ninth seed Flavio Cobolli survived a nervy four-set battle against Mariano Navone — suspended from Day 2 — to advance 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-6(8).

Frances Tiafoe, resuming his also-suspended Day 2 match, eventually overcame Terence Atmane 7-6(6), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 — a win that puts the American into the third round for the first time since 2023. Tommy Paul was efficient in dispatching SoonWoo Kwon 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2. The day’s most significant seeded exit came as 16th seed Learner Tien fell to Márton Fucsovics 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3 — the American becoming the day’s only seeded casualty and the third top-20 men’s seed to exit the tournament in the opening week.

Jenson Brooksby added a noteworthy win over 31st seed Ignacio Buse 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, while Shintaro Mochizuki — the Japanese qualifier — pulled off the day’s most surprising result, defeating Ethan Quinn 6-2, 7-6(6), 7-5 to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Day 3 is done. The draw is thinning, the contenders are separating from the pretenders, and a 39-year-old Serbian is lining up his 105th Wimbledon win — the one that would equal a Swiss legend who has never quite left this place, even in retirement.

Wimbledon 2026 — Men’s Singles, Day 3 Results
All England Club, London | Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Record watch: Djokovic now 104 Wimbledon wins — one shy of Roger Federer’s all-time record of 105