Djokovic's unprecedented tears.

Have you ever seen Novak Djokovic cry? Maybe, but that memory is likely hard to recall. But August 4, 2024 will be a day to remember Djokovic's tears. Immediately after the decisive tie-break in the second set of the 2024 Olympic men's singles final, Djokovic dropped his racket, celebrated, shook hands with Carlos Alcaraz before unleashing unprecedented emotions. Djokovic knelt, his head resting on his arms, and burst into tears. Close-up shots showed the 37-year-old trembling uncontrollably. He looked up at the sky, made the sign of the cross, then collapsed again. Back in his seat, the 24-time Grand Slam champion continued to cry, unable to stop. Receiving a Serbian flag from a ball girl, Djokovic continued to cry and celebrate. Running to the stands, the tennis legend once again broke down emotionally with his coaching staff and family. It's not an exaggeration to say that, throughout his career, fans have never witnessed Nole cry for so long and with such emotion. And if they could, they would want it to last forever. Because it was worth the wait. Worth everything Djokovic has gone through. In contrast, in the final, Djokovic was participating in his fifth Olympic Games, while Alcaraz was making his first. That's not to say the Spanish player didn't deserve the gold medal, but it would have been incredibly cruel to Djokovic's career if he hadn't been the winner.

Djokovic wept uncontrollably, overwhelmed by emotions he had never experienced before. Photo: Tennis

Sixteen years to change the color of a medal. In terms of time, it's a really long time. And in terms of events, the length is even more daunting. Unlike the Grand Slam tournaments, which are held annually and offer opportunities for Djokovic to win, the Olympics only happen every four years. When Djokovic first competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, winning a bronze medal at the age of 21 – the same age as Alcaraz is now – most believed that a gold medal would soon come his way. Along with a series of achievements on the ATP Tour, Djokovic's place in the pantheon of legends would be further illuminated. But then, with one elimination in the first round and two semi-final appearances, suddenly, people realized that Djokovic was 34 years old at the most recent Olympics in Tokyo three years ago. The gold medal was nowhere to be seen, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's positions shone brighter, both having already won Olympic gold medals. Was there any hope for Djokovic after losing to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, suffering from a knee injury requiring surgery, and playing with a bandaged knee? Yes, but not much. However, even in the most difficult circumstances, Nole remained Nole, displaying superior composure compared to Alcaraz, the young player who played with great enthusiasm and clearly showed his desire to win. It was thought that if Alcaraz increased the pace, Djokovic would collapse. But in that back-and-forth battle, Alcaraz's 33 unforced errors proved costly. Djokovic, in that fight, poured everything – his heart, soul, body, and family – into it. With those values, the victory ignited everything. Finally, the missing piece in the "Djokovic zone" was filled. All the envy about his shortcomings was dispelled. After the tears and emotions that filled the Philippe Chatrier court on Sunday afternoon, Djokovic can now smile with satisfaction.