Stat of the Day: Novak Djokovic extends Centre Court winning streak to 40 matches in a row

Novak Djokovic has extended his historic Centre Court winning streak to 40 matches in a row with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) first-round victory over Argentina’s Pedro Cachin at Wimbledon on Monday.

Djokovic’s last loss on Centre Court came almost a decade ago—on July 7th, 2013—when he fell to Andy Murray in the final. Since then, he’s won 40 in a row on the world’s most famous tennis court.

The next-longest Centre Court streaks belong to Roger Federer and Helen Wills Moody, who both won 32 in a row on the court, Federer between 2003 and 2008 and Wills Moody from 1927 to 1938.

After Djokovic closed out the first set on Monday, 6-3, the two players waited out a lengthy rain delay—they resumed play about an hour and a half later. After Djokovic won the second set, 6-3, the two stayed on serve in the third set all the way to the tie-break, where Djokovic opened up a 6-2 lead and closed it out three points later.

Djokovic finished the match with a phenomenal 45 winners to just 19 unforced errors, including 13 aces to three double faults.

“A little bit of strange circumstances with the roof being closed and us delaying the match for almost an hour and a half, but it’s a feeling like no other tournament in the world of walking out on the Centre Court of Wimbledon as a defending champion, on the fresh grass. It’s amazing, amazing to be back to a dream tournament, and to be able to get the first match out of the way,” Djokovic said.

“It was a solid performance. I know I can always play better, but at the same time after a long clay court season, coming into Wimbledon without any preparation tournament, lead-up event, any official match on grass, it was kind of expected I still would probably not be 100% of my level of tennis.

“I’ve been in these situations before, so hopefully as the tournament progresses, I’ll raise my level as well.”

Up next for Djokovic in the second round will be Australia’s Jordan Thompson, who rallied from two sets down to defeat American Brandon Nakashima, 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

They’ll be playing each other for the first time.