.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and also other titles, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, really wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable accomplishment missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at grow older 37, as well as no matter a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as equally matched males's tennis songs last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my body, my family members-- my whatever-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Amazing fight. Unbelievable match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable occupation currently included a males's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and the absolute most full weeks devoted atop in the positions through any sort of male or even girl. It also already had a Summer Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and also he made it clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because round at the Games. He shed to the eventual gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I resembled, 'OK, let's survive this one.' That's why today, before the suit, I performed not think as concerned as I would normally experience, given that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, using a gray sleeve over the right leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn curve pair of months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round and removed his long time competitor in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the single people gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first career gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic switched towards his crew in the stands-- being in front of his spouse as well as their pair of children-- fell his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever, he shed tears as well as covered his face, then progressed as well as took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the challenging instants, he offered it an extra push," Alcaraz claimed with his very own rips. "It harms to drop like this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins in spite of being actually decided in simply pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2015's final at the All of England Club, but Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the web site utilized for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing matchup, including one of the very best to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it can have been actually irritating for Djokovic to locate himself once more across the internet coming from a more youthful, faster version of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic frequently found and also gestured as well as murmured towards his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Truthfully, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was the only minute I really thought I can succeed the match," Djokovic said.It required long substitutions filled with fantastic ball-striking, deft decline tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become more successful, in some cases so good Djokovic decreased to also provide pursuit-- as well as tremendous sprinting, moving, extending self defense at both ends. They offered therefore effectively that not either received equalized once: Djokovic saved 8 break factors, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, probably, was exactly how cleanly each males participated in, despite the ability of the resistance and stress of the occasion.The simply shame, maybe, for the fans-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Produce indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the positions became part of the program, frequently breaking out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, making an orchestral fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to position a rebound, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois periodically helped remind individuals to remain soundless throughout the action.Yet the area also ended up being as quiet as a theatre in between aspects, good enough so that play was actually put off briefly when the sky thick with apprehension was actually pierced by a kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to get to one drop chance as well as deposit it over the web for a winner, he indulged the rowdy reaction through aiming his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the go to top a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both arms overhead to encourage individuals that currently were actually standing and also screaming.The initial collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with legendary shots as well as impressive video games. One video game lasted 18 aspects topped greater than a lots thrilling minutes, featuring 5 rest odds for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in , as he so usually is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body offer, but Djokovic glided only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield winner. After 2 mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley champion and also relied on face his household with a hand conducted high.Another collection, and also an additional tiebreaker, later, and Djokovic had that award that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also delivered it to his lips for an embrace.