.PARIS-- For all of his Conquest championships and other labels, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, definitely desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last significant success skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally obtained one at age 37, as well as it doesn't matter a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and equally matched guys's tennis singles last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my body, my loved ones-- my every thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Awesome battle. Astonishing fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding career presently included a men's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and also the best full weeks invested atop in the positions through any kind of man or female. It additionally currently consisted of a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he made it very clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the possible gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's survive this set.' That's why today, before the complement, I performed not experience as concerned as I would normally think, since I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the best leg that called for surgical operation for a torn lens two months earlier, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd round as well as eliminated his long time competitor in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is the oldest man to gain the songs gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one final forehand winner, Djokovic switched toward his staff in the positions-- sitting in front of his spouse as well as their pair of youngsters-- lost his racket and also knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever before, he wept as well as covered his face, at that point progressed as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic waved the flag." In the difficult minutes, he offered it an added push," Alcaraz mentioned through his personal splits. "It injures to drop like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments even with being actually chosen in simply pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2015's final at the All England Club, however Djokovic gained when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating match, featuring one of the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the very best at the moment in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly possess been actually discouraging for Djokovic to discover themself once again across the web coming from a more youthful, faster model of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic regularly found and gesticulated and also murmured towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was the only instant I really presumed I may win the suit," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps full of wonderful ball-striking, nimble drop shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to be extra effective, in some cases so good Djokovic dropped to even provide chase-- and also enormous sprinting, gliding, flexing defense at both ends. They provided so properly that not either acquired equalized when: Djokovic conserved eight rest aspects, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, probably, was actually how safely both males played, in spite of the skill of the hostility and also stress of the occasion.The only shame, probably, for the supporters-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest events. Make no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the series, repeatedly breaking out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, making a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz attempted to mount a comeback, his supporters started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind folks to stay noiseless in the course of the action.Yet the location also came to be as quiet as a cinema between points, good enough so that play was actually delayed for a while when the air thick with anticipation was actually punctured through a young kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one decrease chance and also down payment it over the internet for a winner, he basked in the raucous response through pointing his best index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both arms cost to motivate folks that presently were standing and also screaming.The first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with epic shots and also epic video games. One video game lasted 18 aspects spread over much more than a dozen thrilling moments, including five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic took care of to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he therefore typically is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body provide, but Djokovic moved simply good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit champion. After 2 blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery victor and relied on face his loved ones with a first had high.Another set, and one more tiebreaker, eventually, and also Djokovic had that award that he desired, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and delivered it to his lips for a kiss.