Even the usually stoic Novak Djokovic couldn't hold back tears at the conclusion of the men’s singles final.
Despite having won all four Grand Slam titles and nearly every accolade in tennis, the Olympic gold medal had always slipped through the Serbian legend's fingers. Five previous attempts had ended in disappointment.
That changed on Sunday.
Playing at Roland-Garros, where he had injured his knee just months earlier, Djokovic faced 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, the rising star who had bested him at Wimbledon earlier in the year. At 37, Djokovic finally clinched the elusive gold.
Alcaraz made Djokovic fight for it. Both sets went to tiebreakers, with intense battles throughout. The first set alone saw 13 failed break points. The match, stretching nearly three hours, was grueling even for a best-of-three format.
The crowd was boisterous, causing frustration for both players as officials continually urged spectators to quiet down.
In the end, Djokovic triumphed over Alcaraz with scores of 7(7)-6(3), 7(7)-6(2).
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday. (Miguel Medina / AFP - Getty Images)
Following the match, Djokovic collapsed on the court, shaking and crying with a towel over his head. He then jumped into the crowd to embrace his family. At last, he had secured the elusive Olympic gold.
“I’m overwhelmed with everything I’m feeling right now,” Djokovic said. “Millions of different emotions, of course.”
Djokovic, at 37, is the oldest player to win the Olympic singles tournament since Great Britain’s Josiah Ritchie in 1908.
“I’ve achieved nearly everything in my individual career, but winning the Davis Cup and, especially, securing an Olympic gold medal for Serbia at 37 is truly unparalleled,” Djokovic reflected.
By adding this gold to his four Grand Slam titles, Djokovic joins the exclusive “Golden Slam” club, a feat accomplished by only five players: Steffi Graf, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, and now himself.
At the age of 9, Djokovic watched Agassi make history as the first to complete the Golden Slam. Since then, Djokovic has amassed 24 Grand Slam titles, the most by any man in tennis history.
While it remains to be seen whether Djokovic will eventually pass the torch to emerging stars like Alcaraz, this triumph firmly establishes him among the sport's greatest legends.
“I constantly remind myself that I am enough, as I tend to be very self-critical,” Djokovic admitted. “It’s one of my biggest internal struggles, feeling like I haven’t done enough or been enough both on and off the court.”