.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships and also various other labels, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, really wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final significant success missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly received one at age 37, and also it doesn't matter a bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also uniformly matched males's ping pong songs last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my body system, my family-- my whatever-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Fabulous battle. Unbelievable battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent profession already included a males's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and the best weeks spent atop in the positions through any male or female. It likewise presently included a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he produced it clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He shed to the eventual gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's get through this one.' That's why today, prior to the suit, I did not believe as worried as I will ordinarily feel, because I had gotten a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the appropriate leg that needed surgery for a torn crescent pair of months ago, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second round and eliminated his long time opponent in straight sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the oldest man to win the single people gold in his sport given that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his group in the stands-- being in front of his partner and also their 2 youngsters-- fell his racket as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he sobbed as well as covered his face, after that rose and got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the difficult minutes, he offered it an additional push," Alcaraz said with his personal rips. "It harms to shed such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments even with being actually determined in only pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic won when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the website utilized for tennis during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an enthralling competition, featuring one of the most ideal to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the best currently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it can possess been actually annoying for Djokovic to find himself once more around the web from a much younger, faster variation of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently looked up as well as gesticulated as well as sputtered towards his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was the only second I in fact assumed I can win the suit," Djokovic said.It demanded long exchanges loaded with superb ball-striking, skilled reduce shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to become more successful, in some cases thus great Djokovic declined to also give hunt-- and also significant sprinting, moving, flexing defense at each ends. They offered thus effectively that not either got equalized the moment: Djokovic saved eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, perhaps, was actually how cleanly both males participated in, despite the talent of the resistance and tension of the occasion.The merely pity, possibly, for the enthusiasts-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Create indisputable, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the show, continuously breaking out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, creating a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz attempted to install a rebound, his followers began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois from time to time reminded individuals to stay silent throughout the action.Yet the area also became as peaceful as a cinema between factors, sufficient to ensure play was actually delayed temporarily when the air thick with apprehension was actually pierced through a young kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one reduce shot and deposit it over the net for a victor, he indulged the rowdy response through pointing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both upper arms expenses to encourage people who actually were standing and also screaming.The 1st set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, full of epic shots and epic activities. One video game lasted 18 points topped greater than a number of exciting mins, featuring 5 rest odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he so commonly is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system provide, yet Djokovic slid merely good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain winner. After two mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery victor and also relied on encounter his loved ones along with a first held high.Another collection, and yet another sudden death, later on, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he wished, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for a caress.