.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions and also various other labels, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, truly wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final notable achievement skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately got one at grow older 37, as well as it doesn't matter a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and uniformly matched males's ping pong single people last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my center, my spirit, my body, my family-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Astonishing struggle. Extraordinary battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional career currently included a guys's- file 24 Grand Slam trophies and also the most weeks devoted atop in the rankings through any man or girl. It likewise already consisted of a Summer Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and he made it crystal clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Games. He shed to the ultimate gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I did not think as nervous as I would usually think, since I had secured an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the ideal leg that needed surgical operation for a torn lens 2 months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as eliminated his long time opponent in straight collections. Now Djokovic is the oldest male to win the songs gold in his sport since 1908-- and also he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one last forehand winner, Djokovic switched towards his group in the positions-- being in front of his better half as well as their pair of kids-- lost his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he cried and also covered his face, at that point increased as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the flag." In the challenging instants, he gave it an added press," Alcaraz claimed via his own rips. "It harms to shed enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes regardless of being determined in just pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise beat Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All England Club, yet Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for tennis during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating match, including among the greatest to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the very best presently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it can possess been actually disheartening for Djokovic to discover himself once again throughout the web coming from a younger, faster model of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic frequently found as well as gestured and murmured towards his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only second I actually presumed I can easily win the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of terrific ball-striking, ingenious reduce shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to become more effective, at times thus good Djokovic dropped to even offer hunt-- and also tremendous sprinting, moving, flexing self defense at each ends. They served so well that not either got equalized once: Djokovic spared eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, possibly, was actually just how safely each males participated in, despite the talent of the hostility as well as stress of the occasion.The just shame, perhaps, for the fans-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest events. Create no mistake, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the series, continuously bursting out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, generating a sonant fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to install a revival, his promoters started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat moderator Damien Dumusois periodically told people to remain silent during the action.Yet the place also ended up being as quiet as a theater between points, enough so that play was postponed for a while when the air thick with apprehension was actually punctured by a little one's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one drop go and also down payment it over the internet for a victor, he indulged the raucous response by directing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both arms expenses to encourage individuals that presently were standing up as well as screaming.The very first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of impressive shots and epic activities. One game lasted 18 points topped much more than a lots enchanting moments, including 5 rest opportunities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic managed to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus commonly is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system serve, but Djokovic glided only good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield champion. After two oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley champion and looked to encounter his loved ones along with a hand conducted high.Another collection, as well as another tiebreaker, later on, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also took it to his lips for a caress.