.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest championships as well as other labels, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, actually yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable accomplishment missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at grow older 37, as well as it doesn't matter a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also uniformly matched males's tennis single people ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my body, my household-- my everything-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Incredible fight. Unbelievable fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent job actually included a guys's- report 24 Conquest trophies and also the most weeks spent atop in the positions by any sort of man or even female. It likewise already included a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- as well as he created it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He lost to the eventual gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I was like, 'OK, let's survive this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the suit, I performed not believe as nervous as I will commonly think, given that I had safeguarded a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the best leg that demanded surgery for a torn crescent 2 months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and removed his long time rival in straight sets. Currently Djokovic is the oldest male to win the songs gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, due to one final forehand victor, Djokovic transformed towards his team in the stands-- partaking front of his other half and their pair of youngsters-- lost his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever, he sobbed as well as covered his face, at that point increased and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the hard moments, he provided it an additional press," Alcaraz pointed out with his personal rips. "It harms to shed similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins despite being chosen in only pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2015's last at the All England Nightclub, however Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the site made use of for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was a fascinating matchup, featuring some of the most ideal to ever perform it in Djokovic, as well as the most ideal at the moment in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it can possess been frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once more all over the web coming from a much younger, speedier model of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic often sought out as well as gesticulated and also muttered towards his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was actually the only moment I really presumed I may gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions filled with wonderful ball-striking, ingenious decline tries-- Alcaraz's tended to be a lot more effective, sometimes thus really good Djokovic declined to even provide pursuit-- as well as significant sprinting, sliding, extending self defense at both ends. They offered thus effectively that not either acquired equalized as soon as: Djokovic saved eight breather factors, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, perhaps, was actually just how easily each males participated in, in spite of the ability of the hostility and also pressure of the occasion.The only pity, maybe, for the supporters-- and also normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Help make indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the stands became part of the show, frequently bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, producing a theatrical fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a return, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Seat moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally advised people to remain noiseless during the action.Yet the location likewise came to be as silent as a cinema in between aspects, sufficient to make sure that play was actually put off temporarily when the air thick with expectancy was punctured by a kid's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one reduce chance as well as down payment it over the internet for a winner, he basked in the rowdy reaction through aiming his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he waved both arms cost to encourage folks that already were standing as well as screaming.The initial collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with epic tries as well as impressive games. One game lasted 18 aspects spread over greater than a dozen mesmerizing minutes, including five rest odds for Alcaraz, before Djokovic managed to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he therefore typically is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body provide, but Djokovic glided simply sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return victor. After 2 errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery victor and also relied on encounter his family members with a clenched fist held high.Another set, and also one more tiebreaker, later on, and Djokovic possessed that award that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also delivered it to his lips for an embrace.