.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships as well as various other titles, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, definitely desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final substantial accomplishment overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at age 37, and also it matters not a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and evenly matched men's tennis singles ultimate at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body system, my household-- my every thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Fabulous struggle. Amazing battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding career currently included a males's- file 24 Conquest trophies as well as the best weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any kind of male or even woman. It additionally currently included a Summertime Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and he produced it crystal clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the resulting gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I felt like, 'OK, let's make it through this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the match, I carried out not experience as anxious as I will usually believe, due to the fact that I had actually secured an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that needed surgical procedure for a torn meniscus 2 months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd round and removed his longtime competitor in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the single people gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one last forehand winner, Djokovic switched towards his group in the stands-- sitting in front of his wife and also their pair of little ones-- fell his racket and knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he wailed as well as covered his face, at that point progressed and took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the difficult instants, he provided it an extra press," Alcaraz mentioned by means of his personal rips. "It harms to shed such as this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 minutes even with being actually decided in merely 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All England Nightclub, yet Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event held at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing competition, including some of the greatest to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest at the moment in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it might have been actually discouraging for Djokovic to locate himself once more all over the web coming from a much younger, speedier model of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic often searched for as well as gestured as well as whispered towards his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." In all honesty, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was actually the only minute I actually assumed I can easily win the suit," Djokovic said.It required long swaps filled with superb ball-striking, quick reduce gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be a lot more effective, often so really good Djokovic decreased to even give pursuit-- and enormous sprinting, gliding, stretching defense at both ends. They offered so effectively that not either got recovered cost once: Djokovic saved 8 break points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was actually exactly how precisely both men played, regardless of the skill of the opposition as well as stress of the occasion.The merely shame, maybe, for the followers-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Help make indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the show, frequently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, making an operatic fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz attempted to position a revival, his promoters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois from time to time advised folks to stay soundless in the course of the action.Yet the place also ended up being as quiet as a cinema in between factors, good enough to ensure that play was postponed for a while when the sky close apprehension was actually punctured through a young kid's crying.Both guys played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one drop shot and also deposit it over the web for a champion, he indulged the rowdy reaction through pointing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms overhead to motivate folks that already were standing and screaming.The 1st set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with epic tries and impressive activities. One game lasted 18 factors spread over more than a dozen mesmerizing mins, featuring five rest chances for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he thus typically is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system provide, yet Djokovic slid only enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand profit winner. After pair of oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery victor and also turned to experience his family members with a hand held high.Another set, and another tiebreaker, later, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and took it to his lips for a caress.