LONDON, July 6 -- The drop-shot volley that broke the record was barely a shot. Novak Djokovic floated it just over the tape at the net, and Roman Safiullin, lunging from the baseline, had no answer. Win number 106 at Wimbledon, one more than Roger Federer had ever compiled at the All England Club, arrived on a ball that barely moved.

It came at the end of 3 hours and 25 minutes on Centre Court on Sunday, a 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 result that sent Djokovic to his ninth consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final. He is 39 years old, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, and a 24-time Grand Slam winner. He is also, as of Sunday afternoon, the man who has won more singles matches at this tournament than anyone in the Open Era.

Roger Federer had accumulated...