.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest champions as well as other titles, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, truly wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last significant accomplishment skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at grow older 37, and it does not matter a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also evenly matched men's tennis single people last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body system, my household-- my every little thing-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Unbelievable struggle. Amazing battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive profession currently featured a guys's- document 24 Grand Slam prizes and the most weeks invested atop in the ranks by any sort of guy or girl. It additionally already included a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and he made it crystal clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He shed to the resulting gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I resembled, 'OK, let's survive this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the match, I did certainly not think as anxious as I would usually feel, considering that I had actually safeguarded an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the appropriate leg that called for surgical operation for a torn lens 2 months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle and also eliminated his long time competitor in straight collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest man to gain the singles gold in his sport given that 1908-- and he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one last forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his staff in the stands-- partaking front of his wife as well as their pair of youngsters-- lost his noise and knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he wept as well as covered his face, after that progressed and got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the difficult seconds, he provided it an extra push," Alcaraz pointed out by means of his personal splits. "It hurts to shed like this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, fifty minutes in spite of being actually determined in simply pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2015's last at the All England Club, but Djokovic succeeded when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an enthralling matchup, including among the greatest to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the greatest right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it can possess been irritating for Djokovic to locate themself once again all over the net coming from a more youthful, speedier version of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently searched for and gestured as well as muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was the only minute I in fact thought I can gain the match," Djokovic said.It required long substitutions full of superb ball-striking, ingenious drop tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be much more productive, often therefore great Djokovic declined to also offer hunt-- and also tremendous sprinting, sliding, extending protection at each ends. They served so well that neither acquired recovered cost once: Djokovic spared eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, possibly, was actually just how easily each guys participated in, despite the ability of the resistance and also pressure of the occasion.The merely pity, probably, for the followers-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest events. Produce no mistake, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the positions became part of the series, repeatedly bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, developing an operatic fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz attempted to position a revival, his supporters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes reminded individuals to stay silent in the course of the action.Yet the place additionally came to be as quiet as a cinema in between aspects, enough to ensure play was actually put off for a while when the air close expectancy was actually punctured by a kid's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one reduce try and also down payment it over the internet for a winner, he basked in the rowdy response through pointing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both arms cost to encourage individuals who presently were standing up and also screaming.The first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with impressive tries and also epic video games. One game lasted 18 aspects spread over more than a lots enchanting minutes, consisting of 5 break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he therefore often is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body offer, however Djokovic moved merely enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After 2 mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley champion as well as counted on face his family members with a clenched fist hosted high.Another set, as well as yet another tiebreaker, eventually, and also Djokovic had that award that he desired, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and delivered it to his lips for a kiss.