“Once you win a slam, it becomes a goal for tennis player to win that Gold.” Having won 24 Grand Slams, Novak Djokovic’s bag’s only missing piece had been, an Olympic Gold. After fulfilling his long-awaited dream of winning an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the 37-year-old burst into tears, not holding himself back from showing his true emotions. Tennis fans and experts have seen him struggling to earn the only piece missing from his illustrious career for decades. But as the moment finally came, it struck a chord with every sports fan in the world. Sam Querrey, a former American tennis player, was isn’t immune to it as well!

Remember the moment when Djokovic hit the last shot during his 2024 Paris Olympics final match against Carlos Alcaraz? It cemented his first victory in the Olympics final (7-6, 7-6) on the red clay of the Rolland Garros, where he has previously won three final clashes (in the French Open). But it was more special this time, and we all saw him descend on his knees, throwing his racquet away in complete awe and disbelief. In his almost two-decade-long dominance in tennis, Djokovic has earned 24 Grand Slams, more than any of his ATP peers, be it Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. But never have we seen him cry loudly on-court, exposing his never-seen-before emotional side to the world. A fan or not, one thing is clear: one can not deny his inevitable presence in tennis.

The August 9 episode of Nothing Major podcast featured a deep dive into Djokovic’s Olympic success. Querrey, against whom Djokovic has played eleven times and won nine of them, was also one of the many people watching this emotional moment on TV. Sharing his reactions in Nothing Major podcast’s August 9 episode, the former World No. 11  said, “This one meant the most for Djokovic. And like I didn’t cry when I got married or had my kids. I was on the sofa the other day watching this with my wife. I wiped a tiny tear, watching Novak…My wife was crying, she was crying too. Like a half tear. Watery eye!

Querrey, who married Abby Dixon in 2018 and has two sons, resonated deeply with the emotional depth of Djokovic’s victory moment. The 36-year-old former player’s Olympic campaign has never been very fruitful, as it only involved a first-round appearance in 2008. But his rare display of emotions signifies the profound impact that Djokovic has had in the tennis world, making Querrey cry for the first time in 15 years!

Shortly after having an emotional outburst on clay, Djokovic, still shaking at that time, ran into the stands to join his family. Hugging his daughter, Tara, and his wife, Jelena, Djokovic also made sure to appreciate his support staff as thousands of his fans cheered for him. What makes it more special is the pebbly road to success that he has had in 2024.

After three semifinal defeats this season, Djokovic finally made an entry into the finals at Wimbledon, only to face a disheartening loss against Alcaraz. Moreover, the Serbian star also fell from his top ranking (where he stayed for 428 weeks) earlier. But now it’s a thing of the past as Djokovic’s gold medal win has cleared all the skepticism about his form. But Djokovic has now withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters. And Querrey has opened up on this decision of Djokovic.

Querrey take on why “as loose as ever” Djokovic’s going to be “more dangerous” in the U.S. Open

Last year, Djokovic won the Cincinnati Masters against Alcaraz in a sheer display of his skills and hard work. But this year the scenario is quite different. The former World No. 1 player wants to skip the tournament and play directly in this year’s last Grand Slam event, the U.S. Open, a place where he won his 24th Grand Slam last year. While it might be bad news for his fans, Querrey provided a different perspective on the subject, hinting at a hopeful future.

“Yeah, not surprising at all. I mean the emotion that spewed out of him after that gold medal, anyone needs five to six weeks to recover from that type of emotion, so no surprise here. But I expect him to be ready to go at the US Open and honestly I feel like he’s gonna be at the US Open just playing with house money. He’s accomplished everything there is to accomplish. I think he’s gonna be relaxed, kind of as loose as ever. He’s gonna be even more dangerous in New York.”

As we celebrate Djokovic’s achievement and Querrey’s vulnerability, we’re reminded that true strength lies not in suppressing emotions but in embracing them.