Wimbledon 2026 LIVE: Latest scores, results and order of play as Djokovic equals Federer record and receives unexpected boost in bid for title

“Obviously to be able to make history on this court is a huge honour and privilege. This was always a dream childhood tournament of mine. I’m not really thinking about how many more I can get, I’m just really trying to win the match on a given day.

“I propose a match between me and Roger Federer for 106! Whoever wins it, gets it. Let’s just stop this here and let’s call him down.”

How about this for a potential upset. Qualifier Claire Liu, the world No 146 who is playing in the third round of Wimbledon for the first time, has won the second-set tiebreak to level the match against Coco Gauff.

Although she is a junior Wimbledon champion, in 2017, Liu is making her first appearance at the All England Club in three years, and has never before reached the third round of a grand slam,

Aryna Sabalenka serves out a bit of a topsy-turvy second set against Jelana Ostapenko, sealing her place in the fourth round with a 6-4 6-4 win.

Up next? Naomi Osaka, who is through to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time. Sabalenka recently defeated Osaka at the French Open, but the former World No 1 has found serious form on the grass.

That looks set to be a blockbuster on Centre Court on Sunday.

An incredible match point. Here’s what Novak Djokovic had to say about it.

“Well I saw him slip and fall down, so I was thinking: ‘Please, just stay down’ for that last shot!

“There was a lot of slipping and sliding, drop shots, and cat and mouse play. He has that variety because he has a big powerful game. He was also changing the pace and putting a lot of variety in the game, so he took me out of my comfort zone. I’m just really relieved to come through this one.”

In the big-hitting battle between former grand slam champions, it’s Aryna Sabalenka who leads Jelena Ostapenko by a set and a break, while Coco Gauff has taken the first set in the all-American contest against Clare Liu.

There’s been another shock in the men’s draw, however, with the returning Hubert Hurkacz knocking out the 21st seed and Queen’s finalist Tommy Paul in four sets.

“More than tennis, I hope that my dance moves will improve because my daughter has been teaching me but I’m pretty poor. She didn’t give me a smile in the end, she was more like: ‘Yeah, we have to practice!’ But hopefully I can have many more dances throughout the rest of this tournament. We will see.”

Arthur Fery has been denied a big show court as the last British singles player at Wimbledon faces Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the third round.

Wildcard Fery, who is through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time, said following his second-round win over Otto Virtanen that he was looking forward to playing on one of the big courts.

But the 23-year-old has been scheduled to play Bergs, the world No 37, third on Court 18, which was the scene of his victory against qualifier Virtanen in the second round on Thursday.

Serena Williams could play doubles with her sister Venus Williams at Wimbledon on Saturday with their match appearing on Saturday’s order of play as “to be arranged”.

Williams, 44, emerged as an injury doubt after “tweaking her knee” during Tuesday night’s defeat to Maya Joint on Centre Court, and was not scheduled to play on Friday – the second and last day of the opening round of the women’s doubles tournament.

Wimbledon have allowed Williams time to recover, however, and Saturday’s order of play has the Williams sisters to play from at least 4:30pm. They have not been assigned a court, however,

“He has that variety because he has a big powerful game. He was also changing the pace and putting a lot of variety in the game, so he took me out of my comfort zone. I’m just really relieved to come through this one.

“I think I’ve done everything I needed to do today, under circumstances that weren’t maybe as good for me as they were in the second round, and it was still enough to win. At this age and stage in my career, every day brings something new and unpredictable for me. I’m hoping that I will come out at my best in a few days’ time.”

Novak Djokovic, speaking on court after his battling win over Arthur Rinderknech.

“It took a bit of luck and a bit of skill in the end. It was a pretty much flawless tie-break from my side of things. I felt I did everything I could in the controllable situations. I served extremely well for most of the match, possibly except for the tie-break when I struggled with it 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.

“Last year, he beat Alexander Zverev on Centre Court, so he clearly loves the big stage and he doesn’t get overwhelmed by the occasion. He showed that today. It was a really tiring and really close match, but I’m happy to overcome it in the tie-break. Sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and I’m happy I did that today.”