In the dying embers of this pulsating match, Novak Djokovic morphed into a young Boris Becker, flying through the air to hit a diving backhand lob volley at match point. At this juncture his opponent, Arthur Rinderknech, was also on the floor after slipping at the net. And Centre Court? All 15,000 of them on their feet. And no wonder. Because this was a first-week mini-classic.
There was little in Rinderknech’s grass court record of 15 wins and 18 defeats to suggest he could put the greatest player in history through the ringer, save for his victory over Alexander Zverev at last year’s Wimbledon. Yet his 6ft 5in frame, booming serve and surprisingly soft hands gave Djokovic all he could handle.
Rinderknech won more points: 117 compared to Djokovic’s 108. He also hit more aces: 21 to 15. And for good measure the Frenchman also clouted substantially more winners too – 67 to 40. But yet again the Serb found a way to win this third-round match, 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4).
Djokovic admitted he was desperately relieved on the final point. “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.”
Since Djokovic’s regal second-round victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, there has been a growing theory that this fortnight is his last great chance to reach the magic number of 25 grand slam trophies, lifting him one clear of Margaret Court in the pantheon.
On the surface it makes sense. Carlos Alcaraz is injured. Jannik Sinner is struggling. And Zverev has a woeful record here. But for it to manifest, it needs the 39-year-old Djokovic to save his body battery for the tough tests ahead. And this draining match was everything he didn’t need.
“It took a bit of luck and a bit of skill in the end,” Djokovic said. “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 did not 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 he 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. After 12 minutes of the third set Djokovic was 5-0 down and staring at his first bagel on grass. And those spectators who popped out at the end of the second set to top up their Pimm’s would have missed the entire thing.
“There was a lot of slipping and sliding, drop shots and cat and mouse play,” said Djokovic. “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.”
There were no breaks in a high-quality fourth set, which went to a tie-break. By now the crowd had picked their sides and were engrossed in a match of the finest margins. No player refused to budge as 3-3 became 4-4, before Djokovic went 5-4 up. But as the match clock ticked past three hours, Rinderknech’s nerve finally broke as he hit a forehand wide.
Soon, Djokovic was basking in the crowd’s victory roar. And even after nearly two decades at the top of his profession, he was celebrating fresh peaks. Because with this victory he equalled Roger Federer’s record of 105 men’s singles match wins at Wimbledon – only Martina Navratilova, with 120, has more.
“To be able to make history of this sport is a huge honour and privilege, and particularly here,” Djokovic said. “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.”
Just as in the first round, Djokovic suffered but survived. Another stern test awaits in the big-serving Russian, Roman Safiullin, on Sunday. But for now, grand slam No 25 is still on.
