Juan Martin del Potro “cried” after close friend Novak Djokovic won long-awaited gold medal at 2024 Paris Olympics

Juan Martin del Potro recalled his emotional reaction to Novak Djokovic clinching the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Juan Martin del Potro “cried” after close friend Novak Djokovic won long-awaited gold medal at 2024 Paris Olympics

Novak Djokovic (L) and Juan Martin del Potro (Images via Imago)

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and became the only fifth player in the history of the sport to complete a career Golden Slam. It was an emotional moment not only for Djokovic but for his dear ones, including former ATP star Juan Martin del Potro.

The Argentine confessed that he cried after Djokovic won the gold medal as he had wanted the Serbian to win it for so long. He said that it was the first time he cried after a tennis match.

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He made me cry the other day when he won the gold medal. It was the first tennis match in which I cried. I was very emotional, I have a very close relationship with him. I know how much he wanted to win that gold meda. He has completed the game as the younger ones say. I'm not saying I felt guilty, but it was logical that he achieved it.
Juan Martin del Potro told EPSN

Notably, it was Del Potro who denied Djokovic his second consecutive bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics as the Argentine beat him in straight sets. He also knocked the Serbian out of the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeating him in the first round.

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Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro enjoyed a great rivalry on the tour, playing against each other a total of 20 times. Although Djokovic won 16 times, Del Potro landed crucial blows to the Serbian in important matches, including two Olympic defeats.

Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro
Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro (via Imago)

The two players last played against each other at the Rome Masters in 2019, where Djokovic came from a set down to win the match. Five years after that, Del Potro and Djokovic traded volleys for a marquee practice session during the 2024 US Open‘s Fan Week.

Reuniting outside the heat of competition, the two fan favorites sweated and smiled all the way through their 90-minute session at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The two players also had some banter as Djokovic teased Del Potro by naming the 2018 US Open win against the Argentine as his greatest success. In response, Del Potro hailed his win against Djokovic at the Rio Olympics as his biggest success.

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