.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other labels, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, truly desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final substantial achievement skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly got one at grow older 37, and it does not matter a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and equally matched males's tennis songs last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my body, my family members-- my every thing-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Astonishing struggle. Awesome match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable occupation presently featured a males's- record 24 Conquest trophies and also the absolute most weeks invested atop in the rankings by any sort of man or even female. It likewise currently consisted of a Summertime Olympics medal, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he produced it crystal clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that cycle at the Video games. He dropped to the ultimate gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's survive this one.' That's why today, before the suit, I did certainly not believe as tense as I will usually think, since I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the ideal leg that needed surgical procedure for a torn crescent pair of months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round and eliminated his longtime rival in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is the oldest male to gain the singles gold in his sport since 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one final forehand victor, Djokovic transformed towards his team in the positions-- being in front of his better half and also their pair of children-- dropped his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he sobbed and covered his face, at that point advanced and took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the hard instants, he offered it an additional push," Alcaraz stated with his personal splits. "It hurts to lose similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes regardless of being made a decision in only pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, yet Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the website utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing competition, including one of the most ideal to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the very best currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it can possess been frustrating for Djokovic to discover himself once again around the internet coming from a much younger, faster model of himself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly looked up as well as gesticulated and sputtered toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was the only second I actually thought I can win the suit," Djokovic said.It demanded long exchanges full of wonderful ball-striking, quick drop gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become extra prosperous, at times therefore good Djokovic decreased to also provide hunt-- and also enormous sprinting, moving, stretching defense at both ends. They served therefore properly that not either obtained broken even as soon as: Djokovic saved eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was exactly how safely each males played, even with the skill of the hostility and also stress of the occasion.The simply embarassment, possibly, for the fans-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Help make indisputable, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands became part of the show, continuously breaking out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, developing a theatrical fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz tried to mount a revival, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat moderator Damien Dumusois periodically advised people to stay noiseless throughout the action.Yet the spot additionally came to be as quiet as a movie theater in between points, enough so that play was actually put off briefly when the air close apprehension was actually punctured through a kid's crying.Both guys played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to get to one drop chance and also down payment it over the internet for a winner, he basked in the raucous reaction by pointing his appropriate index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both upper arms cost to urge individuals that currently were standing up and screaming.The initial set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with impressive gos and epic video games. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over more than a dozen thrilling mins, featuring 5 break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore commonly is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body offer, however Djokovic moved only good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield champion. After two errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner and also counted on face his family with a first held high.Another set, as well as yet another tiebreaker, later on, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also carried it to his lips for an embrace.