Iva Jović Takes First Set 6-3 Off No. 4 Pegula at Wimbledon

Q: As Djokovic chases Federer's historic record, is his biggest opponent now his 39-year-old body or a dangerous, giant-killing qualifier?

Djokovic’s biggest opponent is still his own body, even if Roman Safiullin is a genuine danger on the day. The record chase itself underlines the scale of what Djokovic is attempting. At 39, he is trying to claim a 106th Wimbledon match win and move past Roger Federer’s men’s record. The issue is not his grass-court pedigree or his nerve; it is whether he can keep producing best-of-five tennis deep into a major. Recent coverage has repeatedly framed his age and physical management as the central challenge, with Djokovic increasingly selective about his schedule and more vulnerable to physical dips over long matches. That does not make Safiullin a minor threat. The Russian qualifier, ranked No. 132, is far more dangerous than his ranking suggests. He reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2023, rose as high as No. 36 in early 2024, and owns wins over top players including Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. His game—big first serve, aggressive baseline hitting, willingness to take the ball early—can be especially disruptive on grass. Still, Safiullin is the immediate obstacle; Djokovic’s body is the enduring one. If Djokovic is physically sound, his experience, return game and ability to absorb pressure still make him favorite against a qualifier, however dangerous. If his movement or stamina drops, the draw becomes secondary. So the sharper answer is this: Safiullin can hurt Djokovic today, but Djokovic’s 39-year-old body remains the bigger threat to his pursuit of history.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 5

Iva Jović seized the opener 6-3 against fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula in their Wimbledon fourth-round match, finishing the set by breaking Pegula to love.
The 18-year-old had already broken early for a 2-0 lead and stayed ahead through a volatile start that featured three breaks in the first four games.
Pegula briefly got back on serve, but a forehand error in the next key game handed Jović another opening as the teenager moved ahead 5-3.
The all-American clash opened Day 7 singles action at the All England Club, where Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic were also on the schedule.