It’s a century not out for Novak Djokovic as he secured his 100th win at Wimbledon by beating Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-0 6-4.
But the 24-time Grand Slam winner will have to return for another innings next year if he is to chase down Roger Federer’s all-time record of 105.
Djokovic needed just one hour and 47 minutes to beat his fellow Serbian on a packed-out Centre Court. But he did not have everything his own way from the start.
When Kecmanovic was teasing Djokovic with dropshots early on, the 38-year-old’s brain was there but his legs were not.
However, Djokovic proved there was still life in the old dog when he won the point of the tournament so far in the eighth game, diving to his left at the net to end a 14-shot rally with a stunning winner.
Centre Court was on it’s feet as the seven-time champion soaked in the adulation while dusting himself off. The former villain is now the entertainer.
It proved crucial, he broke that game and took the first set 6-3. In fact, he took eight games in a row to win the second set to love.
Momentum was fully behind Djokovic and the remainder of the match was a formality, dropping four games in the third.
Djokovic will face Alex De Minaur in the fourth round after the Aussie comfortably saw off qualifier August Holmgren 6-4 7-6 6-3.
The No.11 seed was cheered on by fiancee Katie Boulter in the stands, whom he has been consoling after her second-round exit.
Former Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic followed up his shock win over Jack Draper by dispatching Spain’s Jaume Munar 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-4.
Along with Jannik Sinner, Flavio Cobolli is the only other man heading into the next round with a 100 per cent record having not dropped a set.
Italian Cobolli marked his greatest ever Grand Slam run with an impressive 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory over No.15 seed Jakub Mensik.
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