Stat of the Day: Novak Djokovic wins 20th match in a row on grass

With a gutsy 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5 semifinal victory over Denis Shapovalov on Friday, Novak Djokovic did more than reach his milestone 30th career Grand Slam final, and seventh at Wimbledon. Djokovic also kept his total domination of the last few grass-court seasons alive, extending his winning streak on the slick surface to 20 matches in a row.

Since falling to Marin Cilic in the final of Queen’s three years ago, a contest in which he held a match point, Djokovic has gone 20-0 on grass—7-0 to win Wimbledon in 2018, 7-0 to win it again in 2019 and 6-0 at the All England Club again this year en route to the final.

He’s the sixth man in the Open Era to win 20 or more matches in a row on grass after Bjorn Borg (41 in a row), John McEnroe (23 in a row), Jimmy Connors (22 in a row), Pete Sampras (23 in a row twice) and Roger Federer (65 in a row and 20 in a row).

Federer’s record 65-match winning streak on grass started at Halle in 2003 and ended in the 2008 Wimbledon final at the hands of Rafael Nadal.

If he were to record his 21st straight win on grass against Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final on Sunday, Djokovic will tie Federer and Nadal for the men’s all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles.