Roman Safiullin was ranked 132nd in the world, had to win three straight qualifying matches just to get to Wimbledon, and had never beaten a top player at this level. But when the Russian qualifier stepped onto Centre Court on Sunday, he pushed Novak Djokovic further than almost anyone expected.

Still, it was Djokovic who made history. With his 106th win at the All England Club, the 39-year-old Serb broke Roger Federer's record for the most men's singles victories at Wimbledon. The moment arrived when Djokovic closed out his fourth-round match against Safiullin, winning 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The match was not easy. Djokovic struggled early with what appeared to be an eye issue, received a warning for swearing on the court, and at one point fired a ball in frustration after losing his serve in the third set — a moment that drew boos from the crowd. Afterward, Djokovic addressed it directly. "I'm known for my outbursts and meltdowns," he said. "I had a few of those today so I apologise. Our mind wanders all the time. It is very hard to keep it in the present moment."

That honesty stood out almost as much as the record itself. Here was one of the greatest tennis players ever, admitting his flaws in front of millions of viewers.

Meanwhile, Safiullin's own story was remarkable. Just six months earlier, he feared he might never fully recover from an injury. He arrived at Wimbledon as a qualifier — meaning he had to win three additional matches before the tournament even started. Once there, he stunned the tennis world by defeating 12th seed Andrey Rublev and rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca, the latter of which left him in tears of joy. Against Djokovic, Safiullin won the third set and pushed the match past three hours before finally falling.

When it ended, Djokovic embraced Safiullin at the net. The crowd rewarded both players with warm applause.

Djokovic still has work to do. He's now chasing Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles and aiming for an outright record 25th Grand Slam championship overall. He'll face either Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarter-finals — his 17th at Wimbledon.

Looking ahead, Djokovic said it simply: "Survive to thrive — that's how I feel. Hopefully the thriving part is coming."