.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam championships and other titles, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, truly wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial accomplishment overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly received one at grow older 37, as well as it matters not a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also evenly matched guys's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my whatever-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Incredible war. Extraordinary fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive profession presently included a guys's- document 24 Conquest prizes and one of the most full weeks spent atop in the ranks by any sort of man or girl. It also currently included a Summer season Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because round at the Games. He shed to the possible 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 dealing with Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I was like, 'OK, permit's make it through this.' That's why today, prior to the suit, I performed certainly not think as nervous as I would generally believe, since I had gotten an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the correct knee that needed surgery for a torn crescent 2 months earlier, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd round and eliminated his long time rival in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to win the singles gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic transformed towards his team in the positions-- being in front of his other half and their 2 children-- fell his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he cried and covered his face, at that point increased as well as got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the banner." In the hard minutes, he offered it an added press," Alcaraz stated through his personal rips. "It injures to drop such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty minutes even with being determined in simply 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All of England Club, but Djokovic won when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the website made use of for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling match, featuring one of the most effective to ever do it in Djokovic, and the very best presently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possess been irritating for Djokovic to find themself once more around the net coming from a much younger, speedier model of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic regularly found and gestured and also sputtered toward his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was actually the only minute I actually presumed I can gain the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions loaded with terrific ball-striking, skilled drop tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to become more successful, occasionally therefore great Djokovic decreased to also give pursuit-- and also remarkable sprinting, gliding, stretching protection at each ends. They offered thus well that not either acquired recovered cost when: Djokovic saved eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, probably, was actually just how cleanly each males participated in, even with the talent of the opposition as well as pressure of the occasion.The merely shame, probably, for the enthusiasts-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest events. Produce indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the stands became part of the series, repetitively breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, creating a sonant fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz sought to place a return, his fans began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois from time to time advised individuals to remain noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the location also became as peaceful as a movie theater in between aspects, enough to ensure that play was actually delayed for a while when the sky thick with apprehension was punctured through a young kid's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one decrease try as well as deposit it over the internet for a champion, he indulged the rowdy response through directing his right forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swung both upper arms overhead to urge folks who actually were actually standing as well as screaming.The very first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, full of legendary shots as well as epic video games. One activity lasted 18 aspects topped much more than a loads exciting minutes, including 5 rest opportunities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore commonly is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body provide, yet Djokovic slid only good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a volley champion as well as turned to face his family members with a hand conducted high.Another set, as well as one more sudden death, later, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also took it to his lips for a caress.