Novak Djokovic vs Arthur Rinderknech LIVE!
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic safely progressed into the fourth round but only after he narrowly avoided being served a bagel during a hard-fought win over 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech.
Djokovic suffered a shock exit in the last 32 of the French Open last month and while he prevented a repeat at the All England Club on Friday afternoon, a 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6 (4) victory only told half the story for the 24-time grand slam singles winner. Frenchman Rinderknech had been two points away from dishing out the 13th 6-0 score of Djokovic’s career during an extraordinary 18-minute third set on Centre Court, but the 39-year-old avoided that unwanted feat and regrouped in set four to go through.
Seventh seed Djokovic would have expected to face his Roland Garros conqueror and highly rated 19-year-old Joao Fonseca next, but he was outfoxed by Roman Safiullin earlier in the day. This was Djokovic’s 105th singles win at Wimbledon, which brought him level with Roger Federer.
Novak Djokovic vs Arthur Rinderknech latest updates
- GAME, SET, MATCH! Djokovic wins in four sets
Game, set and match! Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6(4) Rinderknech
16:53 , Oli Gent
And there’s the mini-break!
Rinderknech is overzealous on the forehand up the line, misses it, and here’s match point!
And what a way to do it, with the dive-volley winner!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (5-4) Rinderknech*
16:51 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech spanks an ace down the middle, and it’s 4-3 after the changeover.
Djokovic responds with an unreturnable serve of his own, and it’s 4-4.
He slams another down the T, and it’s 5-4!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (3-3) Rinderknech*
16:49 , Oli Gent
No! A real chance for Djokovic to claim the mini-break, but he misses with the cross-court backhand! He had him right where he wanted him!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (3-2) Rinderknech*
16:47 , Oli Gent
A wide ace of his own for Djokovic, and it’s two apiece, and Rinderknech nets the forehand, as he looks to step in and get aggressive.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (1-2) Rinderknech
16:46 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech nets his backhand return off the second serve. A good start for Djokovic.
The Frenchman responds with a blistering ace into the corner, and, at the third time of asking, he puts away the smash.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 Rinderknech
16:43 , Oli Gent
Right. Again, he is one game away.
Rinderknech, ball in hand, says not today with an ace for 15-0.
The backhand return from Djokovic is long, too, and it’s 30-0 in double-quick time.
He attacks the net, and shows a strong wrist and excellent racquet control to glance the volley winner over for three game points.
He holds, and we’re into the tiebreak. It was always going to happen.
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-5 Rinderknech*
16:39 , Oli Gent
The luck is really smiling down on Rinderknech as his backhand clips the net and dribbles over for 0-15.
But this time, it’s Djokovic’s turn to thank the heavens as he sends a kiss to the sky, with his own backhand grazing the net cord on its way over. 15-15.
Djokovic goes for the dropshot once more after a gruelling baseline exchange, but he nets it! The crowd chant his name, rallying behind him. 15-30.
And that’s better, as he executes the dropshot to perfection for 30-30.
A big serve down the T from the 39-year-old, and it’s game point.
He holds, as a Rinderknech forehand on the run goes long.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 5-5 Rinderknech
16:34 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech serving to stay in it here.
Djokovic tries the delicate dropshot, but there’s just not enough on it in a good start for the Frenchman when he needs it.
Djokovic is alive to the serve and volley and manages to get back not one but two of his smashes, but he just misses with a big inside-out forehand as he looks to get back into the game. 30-0.
The 25th seed gets ran ragged by the world No8 once more, but he proves his worth as he bests him, spooning over the half-volley winner.
He holds with ease!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 5-4 Rinderknech*
16:29 , Oli Gent
A big ace wide from Djokovic gives him the perfect start to the ninth game, but he misses the target as he tries to wrongfoot Rinderknech. 15-15.
An ace down the middle is much better, and that is some expert court coverage from the main man as Rinderknech looks to move him about. The Frenchman goes for the lob... but it’s just long! 40-15.
Djokovic nets his follow-up forehand for 40-30, and the pressure is still on.
The kick serve bails him out, however, and he is one game away!
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 4-4 Rinderknech
16:24 , Oli Gent
Really good from Djokovic as Centre Court begins to chant his name. They want him to turn it up a notch.
He’s trying his best to, but he can’t when Rinderknech has luck like that! A sliced forehand dropshot just kisses the tape on its way over!
That is more like it from the seven-time champion. He steps inside the baseline, and zips an inside-out forehand for a winner for 15-30. A real chance here.
But Rinderknech keeps him out, with the serve and volley levelling the scores.
A thumping ace down the T ekes him ahead once more, and after a thrilling rally, Djokovic puts the backhand long!
Centre Court is on its feet!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 4-3 Rinderknech*
16:18 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech is on the deck once more as Djokovic dictates with the backhand. A volley winner opens the scoring in the seventh, and the Frenchman just misses as he goes for a bold line winner.
But this time, he makes it! A wide serve from Djokovic that the big 25th seed is alive to, and he directs it into the corner for 30-15.
Djokovic quickly quashes that threat with a serve that just grazes the sideline, and he holds once more to keep his nose in front.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 3-3 Rinderknech
16:15 , Oli Gent
Some great depth from the Frenchman, which is frustrating Djokovic and limiting the space he has to work with.
He slams a wide ace for 30-0, and another down the middle which takes Djokovic by surprise.
40-0, and quickly 3-3. with yet another unreturnable serve!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 3-2 Rinderknech*
16:11 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech slices a forehand just wide and Djokovic is on the board in this fifth game.
The Serb mishits a forehand himself, however, and it just loops long. Alarm bells here at 15-30, but they are quickly quietened as Djokovic puts away a winner, after Rinderknech slips and manages to get the ball back in play!
An ace from the 39-year-old is just what he needs, and here comes game point.
Another seals the hold! New balls, please!
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 2-2 Rinderknech
16:07 , Oli Gent
So good from Rinderknech who surreptitiously moves into the net and ends the rally quickly with a dropshot volley winner.
He shows even better hands as Djokovic’s driven backhand return lands at his feet, and he directs it just over the net for 30-0.
A thunderous delivery makes it 40-0, and Djokovic fires his return into the bottom of the net.
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 2-1 Rinderknech*
16:04 , Oli Gent
The seven-time champion is back on serve and opens with a one-two punch.
An ace down the middle will do him no harm at all, and it’s 40-0 not long after, with another sensational dropshot.
Another ace down the T puts the Serb in front.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 1-1 Rinderknech
16:01 , Oli Gent
Expert approach and net play from the 25th seed who has Djokovic groaning as he stretches every fibre of his legs to try and retrieve his volley winner. He palms another return into the bottom of the net for 30-0, gets the initial Rinderknech smash back, but can’t get the second one in play. 40-0.
A double fault lets the No7 seed into the contest, and an attempted dropshot just kisses the top of the net and dribbles back down for 40-30.
Djokovic spurns his opportunity, though, losing his footing and powering a backhand of his own into the net. Rinderknech holds.
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 1-0 Rinderknech*
15:56 , Oli Gent
Right then. Back again, and I wonder if Djokovic has regrouped. That was a hefty third set battering.
He opens the fourth with a double fault, but gets off the mark as Rinderknech nets an inside-out forehand.
He overcooks the backhand return for 30-15, and he whacks a forehand too powerfully to let Djokovic off the hook.
Two game points, and the 24-time Grand Slam champ is on the board in this fourth set.
Set! *Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 Rinderknech
15:50 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech powers down a serve down the middle to go up 15-0, and a one-two punch brings him two points away from taking this third set.
He curls a splendid serve out wide for the ace to tee up three set points, and he needs just the one!
Game on!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-5 Rinderknech*
15:48 , Oli Gent
It’s not going well for Djokovic, who sees his second serve hit for a backhand return winner. 0-15.
Rinderknech is in his groove now, whipping a cross-court forehand that the Serb can only palm into the net.
That’s better, though, with a first serve in play that Rinderknech knocks long with the return, and that’s even better, with the disguised backhand dropshot to draw level in this sixth game.
Rinderknech just overcooks the forehand, and Djokovic has turned this game on its head. He holds, and avoids the bagel.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 0-5 Rinderknech
15:44 , Oli Gent
A serving exhibition there from the Frenchman, who thunders four unreturnable serves for an easy hold!
Break! Djokovic 7-5 6-4 0-4 Rinderknech*
15:42 , Oli Gent
Right then. What say you, Mr Djokovic?
Nothing, as it turns out, as Rinderknech stretches to guide his forehand for a return winner! 0-15, but it’s level in a flash as the Serb powers down an ace on the T.
Rinderknech’s deep return lands at Djokovic’s feet, and he can only palm his backhand into the net for 15-30, and that is much better from the seven-time champion, being aggressive with his approach play.
His volley doesn’t land where he’d like it to and Rinderknech has a chance at a passing winner on the run... but he misses! 30-30.
But oh! More trouble ahead for the 24-time major champion, who hits a double fault at a criticial moment!
Break point, which Rinderknech takes as Djokovic spins a backhand well wide!
The 25th seed pumps his fist, and Centre Court loves that!
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 0-3 Rinderknech
15:36 , Oli Gent
Djokovic is furious with himself as he can’t direct his return into play. 15-15. The following one, he can, but it tees up a putaway on top of the net for Rinderknech foe 30-15. The Frenchman serves and volleys, but Djokovic gets to the dropshot... but he can’t hit the target! 40-15, and two game points for the No25 seed, who converts.
Break! Djokovic 7-5 6-4 0-2 Rinderknech*
15:33 , Oli Gent
A great start for the No25 seed as he loops a forehand pass beyond the 25-time Grand Slam champion. A mishit backhand return lands awkwardlly as Djokovic spoons into the net, and there’s danger here at 0-30.
Djokovic responds as winners do, beating down his backhands cross-court, and Rinderknech nets as he tries to switch it up the line. 15-30.
Djokovic sees his second serve attacked and he snatches at a forehand, landing it in the tramlines.
Here are two break points... but the first is saved with a big serve.
There’s one more to save, but he can’t, as Rinderknech breaks with the dropshot!
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 0-1 Rinderknech
15:29 , Oli Gent
Time for the third set.
Djokovic, sprawling, palms the return long and a T ace makes it 30-0 in a good start to Rinderknech, who has to regroup and go again.
That won’t help as he balloons a backhand long, but that certainly will as he cracks an ace down the middle.
A Djokovic backhand just lands past the baseline, and the Frenchman holds.
Set! Djokovic 7-5 6-4 Rinderknech
15:20 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech shanks a forehand wide of the net post for 30-0. Djokovic nets a forehand for 30-15, and he’s annoyed with himself there. That’s a big serve, though, and here are two set points, with one hour 40 minutes on the clock.
The ace down the middle does it!
*Djokovic 7-5 5-4 Rinderknech
15:16 , Oli Gent
Great depth off the return from Djokovic has Rinderknech in all kinds of trouble for 0-15 as the Frenchman serves to stay in the second. He frames a forehand into the crowd for 0-30, and he’s in deep water now. He salvages the situation - partly - with a serve and volley, but he mishits a backhand and here come two set points, with the 25th seed already looking resigned to defeat.
He crunches a T serve to save the first, and that has hit the line right on the money, and another ace down the middle brings him back to deuce!
The wide serve has Djokovic scrambling, and suddenly, it’s game point. Djokovic somehow gets the first serve back with great improvisation, but it tees up Rinderknech’s snmash putaway. 5-4.
Djokovic 7-5 5-3 Rinderknech*
15:10 , Oli Gent
Better from Rinderknech who times his approach well and is able to guide the backhand putaway into the empty court for 0-15. He can’t get anywhere near that boomer from Djokovic down the T, though, and he’s pegged back. Djokovic looks to rush the net and Rinderknech tries to loop a forehand past him, but it’s wide. 30-15.
Djokovic steps inside the baseline and looks to dictate off both wings, and he duly does so, teeing up two game points. He needs just one, as Rinderknech blasts a forehand way out.
*Djokovic 7-5 4-3 Rinderknech
15:05 , Oli Gent
A big serve from Rinderknech sets the tone for the seventhn game, as he thunders down a second ace in as many deliveries.
He snaps the bouncer and backhand one-two for 40-0, and he remains within one.
Djokovic 7-5 4-2 Rinderknech*
15:03 , Oli Gent
Ideal start for Djokovic as Rinderknech keeps missing in this sixth game.
The serve-volley works a charm for the Serb this time, and he wraps up a comfortable hold as Rinderknech slices into the bottom of the net.
*Djokovic 7-5 3-2 Rinderknech
14:59 , Oli Gent
The serve-and-volley has mostly worked for Rinderknech this afternoon. it does there, and he’s up 15-0. There it is again for 40-0, and that’s a dream hold for him under the circumstances. Now time to break back...
Djokovic 7-5 3-1 Rinderknech*
14:57 , Oli Gent
Djokovic blasts a forehand way off the mark to give Rinderknech hope in this game for 15-15. An accurate serve bails him out, and Rinderknech blazes a return wide for two game points. An ace cements the hold.
Break! *Djokovic 7-5 2-1 Rinderknech
14:52 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech stops as he waits for the Djokovic backhand return to land long, but to his horror, it squeezes inside the baseline for 0-15. A double fault piles on the pressure, but the Frenchman alleviates some of that with a smashing ace down the middle. He tries the forehand line winner on the run as Djokovic moves him from side to side, but he misses it and now here’s trouble with two break points.
That is some way to save it with some exemplary net play, despite Djokovic’s best efforts and incredible agility to keep the dream alive.
Here comes the second break point, which he saves with a booming delivery out wide for deuce. A smash putaway is just where he wants to be as he tees up game point, but he is pegged back as he lashes a forehand into the tramlines.
He cracks another into the same tramlines, and another break opportunity for the veteran at the other end... and he takes it with a smash of his own!
Djokovic 7-5 1-1 Rinderknech*
14:45 , Oli Gent
Back on serve for the Serb, but that is a delicious dropshot from Rinderknech that just dies on the grass as it hits the turf. 0-15
But this is just what Djokovic does. He lures the big Frenchman in with a dropshot of his own, deals with the reply, lobs him, and watches his opponent’s chip lands long. 15-15.
A big serve down the T brings up 30-15, and another out wide give him two game points, but Rinderknech is not giving up, lasering a cross-court forehand winner for 40-30, and a double fault from the GOAT brings us to deuce!
A real chance for Rinderknech, as Lady Luck smiles down on him, with his dropshot kissing the net on its way over!
Break point, but Djokovic saves it with a whipped forehand up the line, and Rinderknech is furious with himself for the wrong choice of dropshot.
Another sublime exchange as Djokovic earns himself a game point in some style. The grunts increase in decibel level, and Djokovic rips a forehand pass as Rinderknech on the dive can’t get there!
And finally, he holds!
*Djokovic 7-5 0-1 Rinderknech
14:35 , Oli Gent
Time for the second set, with 52 minutes on the watch.
Rinderknech guides a deep forehand winner right into the corner to get himself off to the perfect start, and he finds the volley winner after Djokovic slides to reach the dropshot. A double fault gives Djokovic a way into this opening game, but the ace brings up two game points.
Djokovic nets a routine forehand, and the Frenchman holds.
Set! Djokovic 7-5 Rinderknech*
14:29 , Oli Gent
Simply sensational. He looks down - literally - and out of the opening rally as Rinderknech powers his groundstrokes, but that is a sublime dive-volley for 15-0. He rightfully accepts the adulation with a bow.
A backhand pass clips the tape, and Rinderknech thinks he has an easy putaway on top of the net, but he palms it too low! 30-0.
That’s much better, though, as he catches Djokovic out as the Serb approaches, whacking a line winner past him to get off the mark in this game.
That doesn’t last long, however,as the Serb plunders a powerful T serve to tee up two set points, and there it is, with the smash winner!
Break! *Djokovic 6-5 Rinderknech
14:24 , Oli Gent
That’s an excellent return from Djokovic after a booming Rinderknech delivery, and it forces the Frenchman to rush his forehand long. Rinderknech replies with another serve-and-volley that has Djokovic scurrying to meet the dropshot, but he can only spoon it into the net. He tries to draw the 39-year-old in once more with another, but Djokovic is alert to it, and wins it with a delicate dropshot of his own for 15-30. Chance here, and even more so when Rinderknech overcooks a backhand.
Two break points, and Djokovic wastes the first as his looping forehand just misses. Rinderknech is not out of the woods just yet, and a miscued backhand into the net brings up the break for Djokovic!
Djokovic 5-5 Rinderknech*
14:19 , Oli Gent
A netted forehand eases the pressure slightly on Djokovic, but Rinderknech picks off his backhand slice with a forehand line winner in retort. A smash putaway brings up 30-15, but alarm bell start ringing as Rinderknech rips a pass that just kisses the line for 30-30. A looping backhand deep has Djokovic, who has aggressively moved forward, scrambling, but it just lands long and spares the Serb’s blushes. Here’s game point, which he converts with a stunning backhand pass as Rinderknech tries a sneaky approach!
*Djokovic 4-5 Rinderknech
14:13 , Oli Gent
The one-two punch starts the game nicely for Rinderknech, and he’s enjoying himself with a disguised dropshot winner for 30-0. A first-serve fault hits Djokovic on its way through, but the Serb can’t get his revenge as he lands a backhand return of the second long. Three game points, and the serve-and-voley wraps it up nicely.
Djokovic 4-4 Rinderknech*
14:11 , Oli Gent
Simply sensational from Djokovic. Rinderknech looks like he has him on the ropes with some crunching groundstrokes, but this is what makes him the greatest. He repels everything the Frenchman throws at him, and finishes it off with a sumptuous lob that Rinderknech can only palm out.
Another backhand just flies wide from the 25th seed, and he plants one more into the tramlines for a love hold for the seven-time champion.
*Djokovic 3-4 Rinderknech
14:06 , Oli Gent
A thumping first serve from Rinderknech makes it 30-15 in the seventh, and he lasers another out wide for two game points. Djokovic overdoes the forehand, and Rinderknech is back in front.
Break! Djokovic 3-3 Rinderknech*
14:03 , Oli Gent
That’s the way to respond as Rinderknech spanks a forehand line winner at a fair rate of knots to go up 0-30 in this sixth game. His backhand slice just drops long to give Djokovic a route back into it, but Rinderknech outfoxes him with the dropshot, as the 39-year-old takes a tumble on the turf! He’s ok, but he faces two break-back points.
And we’re back on-serve as Djokovic nets a routine forehand!
Break! *Djokovic 3-2 Rinderknech
13:57 , Oli Gent
Rinderknech is really thundering his first serve down, but he is facing one of the greatest returners of all time, who gets it back into play. The Frenchman lashes a forehand wide to give Djokovic the edge in this game, and a double fault piles the pressure on for 0-30. Djokovic steps in and attacks the return, and luck is on his side as his second forehand clips the net and drops over! Three break points, and he roars in disgust as he loops a backhand long to spurn the first.
Here comes the second, which he converts after a superb exchange!
It’s Rinderknech’s turn for some fortune as his backhand clips the net and forces Djokovic into the net, but his expert lob catches the Frenchman out, and he can only direct his backpedalling backhand into the net!
Djokovic 2-2 Rinderknech*
13:53 , Oli Gent
Djokovic survives opening his second service game with a double fault as his second delivery clips the tape and dribbles over. Rinderknech nets the return frmo the third attempt, and the seven-time champion just will not miss off the backhand, changing direction at the last to catch out his opponent. It’s 40-0 as Rinderknech nets the forehand return, and that’s another comfortable hold with an accurate wide serve.
*Djokovic 1-2 Rinderknech
13:49 , Oli Gent
Djokovic survives a slip and is able to get up quickly and reposition himself mid-rally, but he fires a forehand into the tramlines to open the third game. Rinderknech blasts a wide serve for an ace to double his money, but Djokovic is in the ascendancy the next point, attacking the return and following it up with the forehand winner to register his interest. The serve-and-volley bails Rinderknech out once more, and that brings up two game points. He needs just the one, approaching the net once more to keep his nose ahead.
Djokovic 1-1 Rinderknech*
13:45 , Oli Gent
A strong start to his serving for the Serb as Rinderknech overcooks a backhand, and a one-two punch off the backhand wing makes it 30-0 in double-quick time. That’s a really good, deep return from Rinderknech from the wide Djokovic serve, but he can only follow it up with a forehand into the net. He makes up for it and then some, running around his backhand and thundering a second-serve return up the line which takes Djokovic by surprise, but the 24-time major champion reacts with some solid net play of his own, with the volley winner wrapping up the hold.
*Djokovic 0-1 Rinderknech
13:42 , Oli Gent
Here we go then. Rinderknech to serve from the Royal Box end, and he gets the opening delivery in, and wins it nicely with a dropshot winner. A serve-volley combination makes it 30-0, and that could be mightily important for the Frenchman at times here. He crunches a T serve down the middle, which Djokovic deflects back, but he powers the forehand into the corner for 40-0... and a smash putaway on top of the net secures a confidence-boosting love hold.
Rinderknech won the toss
13:38 , Oli Gent
... and chose to serve.
The players are out!
13:34 , Oli Gent
A big whoop goes up from the Centre Court faithful as the door slides open, and the players emerge. Djokovic is sporting that cream blazer once more, and the No7 seed is sporting a baseball cap with the sun beating down on the hallowed south London turf.
ICYMI: Osaka stuns with another walk-on dress
13:31 , Oli Gent
Naomi Osaka lived up to her reputation as a fashion icon in her latest Wimbledon appearance on Friday.
The former world number one walked onto Court 1 to face Australia's Daria Kasatkina in a stunning long, white embroidered cloak.
Head to head
13:23 , Oli Gent
How have these two fared when they have come up against each other?
Well, as it turns out, this is their first ever meeting.
There’s always a first. How about Centre Court at Wimbledon?
If Djokovic wins!
13:20 , Oli Gent
If the Serb wins today, he will be one victory off matching Roger Federer’s record of winning 105 matches at Wimbledon.
What about Rinderknech?
13:15 , Oli Gent
He was left disappointed after his second-round exit of his home Slam at Roland-Garros, beaten by Matteo Berrettini, but since then, it has just been first-round defeats.
He was beaten at Libema by Adrian Mannarino, before being dumped out of Queen’s by Hamad Medjedovic.
Before the French Open, he had reached the last eight of Geneva, and he took the opening set off Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells earlier this year.
At the Australian Open, he was felled in the first round by the hard-hitting Hungarian Fabian Marozsan.
How did Djokovic do in the lead-up?
13:07 , Oli Gent
Leading up to Wimbledon, Djokovic did not play a warm-up tournament - nothing new there - with his last competitive match coming in his defeat to Fonseca at Roland-Garros.
Before Paris, he was stunned in the first round of Rome by Dino Prizmic, and Jack Draper beat him in the third round of Indian Wells.
At the Australian Open, where he was won 10 titles, he was beaten in the final by Carlos Alcaraz.
Also today!
13:00 , Oli Gent
Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, the two world No1s, are both in action later today.
But who are they playing, and where?
Read the full order of play here!
Biggest shocks so far!
12:52 , Oli Gent
Many of the top seeds across the men’s and women’s draws have fallen already, to compound Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu’s withdrawals and Carlos Alcaraz’s injury.
But who has suffered a wretched fate already?
Should it be Fonseca...
12:37 , Oli Gent
Fonseca has exploded onto the scene as one of the top prodigies in the men’s game.
Many have likened his playstyle to that of Carlos Alcaraz, and the 19-year-old defeated Djokovic in a stunning five-set thriller at Roland-Garros last month.
He has the opportunity to endear himself as the next darling of the All England Club, and he could well become one of the all-time great entertainers on the hallowed south London turf.
Who is next?
12:30 , Oli Gent
For the victor, they will earn an encounter with either Romain Safiullin, the qualifier who stunned 12th seed Andrey Rublev, or Joao Fonseca, the 24rd seed, who has impressed in his opening two rounds.
Fonseca, the Brazilian prospect, overcame the wily veteran Roberto Bautista Agut on Court No18 first, and then he moved past Jesper de Jong in straight sets.
Around the grounds
12:28 , Oli Gent
It’s not looking good for Fonseca on Court No2, as he’s down two sets against Roman Safiullin, while Belinda Bencic is up against Anna Kalinskaya on Court No3.
There is plenty of doubles action on the outside courts, with British pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool one set apiece with Corentin Moutet and Arthur Reymond in their men’s doubles second round on Court 12.
Rinkderknech latest results
12:22 , Oli Gent
As for his opponent...
The Frenchman defeated British hopeful Oliver Tarvet in his opening round, but he made it more difficult for himself than perhaps he should have.
Tarvet snatched the third set after a two-tiebreak slog that saw Rinderknech up in the match, but the 25th seed eked through in four sets on Court No12.
He had an easier ride against 22-year-old American Martin Damm Jr in the second stage, cruising to a straight-sets victory and book his place on Centre against the all-time greatest.
Djokovic latest results
12:15 , Oli Gent
So, how did we get here?
The seven-time champion survived a major scare in his opening match against the unknown Chinese player Yibing Wu.
The Serb dropped the second set in front of a stunned Centre Court, but he roared back to claim a four-set victory.
In the second round, he was far more in control, ousting former world No3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in ruthless fashion. He earned a 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory to move into the third round.
How to watch
12:07 , Oli Gent
TV channel: In the UK, live free-to-air coverage of the action at Wimbledon will be broadcast across BBC One and BBC Two.
Coverage on BBC Two begins at 11am BST, and further coverage on BBC One begins at 2pm.
Hello and welcome!
12:00 , Oli Gent
... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Novak Djokovic’s third-round match at Wimbledon.
The Serb takes on Arthur Rinderknech this afternoon, as he opens play on Centre Court.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with this match set to get underway at 1.30pm BST.
