.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam championships and various other titles, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, really desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable accomplishment overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly got one at age 37, and also it matters not a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as equally matched males's ping pong singles last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family members-- my everything-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Astonishing struggle. Fabulous battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive job currently featured a guys's- report 24 Conquest trophies and also the absolute most weeks invested atop in the positions by any male or girl. It likewise currently consisted of a Summer months Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and he made it very clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Gamings. He shed to the ultimate gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's get through this one.' That's why today, just before the fit, I carried out not believe as worried as I would ordinarily experience, since I had protected an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the best leg that demanded surgical treatment for a torn meniscus 2 months ago, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second round and also removed his longtime competitor in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is the earliest man to win the single people gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, due to one final forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his group in the positions-- being in front of his other half and their two children-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he wailed as well as covered his face, then progressed as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the tough minutes, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz said through his personal rips. "It injures to drop like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments despite being decided in just pair of sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All England Club, yet Djokovic won when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing matchup, featuring one of the greatest to ever do it in Djokovic, and the most effective at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it can possess been actually disheartening for Djokovic to locate themself once again across the internet from a much younger, speedier variation of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic often found as well as gestured and also sputtered toward his attendee box.Still, he triumphed." In all honesty, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was the only instant I really believed I can easily gain the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps filled with exceptional ball-striking, ingenious reduce tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be even more productive, occasionally therefore good Djokovic dropped to even give hunt-- and remarkable sprinting, moving, flexing self defense at both ends. They provided therefore properly that not either acquired recovered cost once: Djokovic conserved eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, perhaps, was how precisely each men participated in, regardless of the ability of the hostility as well as stress of the occasion.The merely shame, perhaps, for the followers-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Produce no mistake, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands became part of the show, frequently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, making a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to position a resurgence, his supporters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois occasionally advised people to continue to be silent throughout the action.Yet the spot also came to be as peaceful as a theatre between factors, enough so that play was actually put off for a while when the air thick with expectancy was pierced by a kid's crying.Both guys played to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to get to one decline try and also deposit it over the internet for a winner, he indulged in the raucous response by directing his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both arms expenses to motivate individuals who actually were actually standing up and screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with impressive shots and legendary video games. One game lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a loads magical moments, including 5 rest opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic handled to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he so commonly is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system offer, but Djokovic glided only sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return victor. After pair of blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a volley champion as well as turned to face his loved ones along with a clenched fist held high.Another set, as well as one more sudden death, later on, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also brought it to his lips for a caress.