.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam championships and also other headlines, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last significant accomplishment missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at grow older 37, as well as it matters not a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and uniformly matched men's tennis singles ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my physical body, my family members-- my every little thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Unbelievable battle. Incredible battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding job currently featured a guys's- report 24 Grand Slam prizes and the best weeks devoted atop in the positions by any kind of guy or even woman. It likewise currently contained a Summer season Olympics award, from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- as well as he produced it crystal clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the eventual gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I felt like, 'OK, permit's get through this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the match, I carried out not experience as stressed as I will generally experience, given that I had safeguarded an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the correct knee that needed surgical procedure for a torn crescent 2 months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second round and removed his long time competitor in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity given that 1908-- as well as he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first occupation gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, due to one final forehand champion, Djokovic transformed toward his staff in the stands-- partaking front of his other half and also their pair of kids-- lost his racket and also knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he burst into tears as well as covered his face, at that point increased and grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic waved the flag." In the challenging moments, he offered it an additional press," Alcaraz pointed out by means of his very own splits. "It hurts to drop enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 moments in spite of being actually chosen in merely pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All of England Club, however Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the web site made use of for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing matchup, featuring one of the most effective to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the very best currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possibly have been actually disheartening for Djokovic to locate himself once again all over the internet from a much younger, faster variation of himself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic often searched for as well as gesticulated and also whispered toward his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was actually the only second I actually thought I may gain the suit," Djokovic said.It demanded long swaps filled with wonderful ball-striking, ingenious reduce shots-- Alcaraz's tended to be extra successful, in some cases thus really good Djokovic decreased to also provide hunt-- and also remarkable sprinting, moving, extending defense at both ends. They offered so properly that not either acquired equalized as soon as: Djokovic conserved 8 breather factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was just how easily both men played, despite the ability of the resistance as well as stress of the occasion.The merely embarassment, maybe, for the followers-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest events. Help make indisputable, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the stands became part of the show, consistently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, creating a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz attempted to position a rebound, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois from time to time advised individuals to remain quiet in the course of the action.Yet the area additionally became as silent as a theater between factors, enough in order that play was actually postponed temporarily when the sky close apprehension was punctured by a young kid's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one drop go and also down payment it over the net for a winner, he basked in the rowdy response by pointing his appropriate index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both upper arms overhead to encourage individuals who currently were standing and screaming.The first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with epic shots and impressive games. One video game lasted 18 factors topped greater than a dozen magical moments, consisting of five rest possibilities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to carry for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus typically is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body offer, but Djokovic glided just enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After 2 mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery victor and also turned to experience his household with a hand hosted high.Another collection, and an additional sudden death, later on, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also took it to his lips for a caress.