.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam championships and other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, truly wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable success skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at age 37, as well as it doesn't matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and evenly matched men's tennis single people ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my household-- my every thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Extraordinary war. Awesome fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent profession presently included a guys's- file 24 Conquest prizes and also one of the most weeks devoted atop in the rankings through any sort of man or even woman. It additionally presently contained a Summer season Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and he made it crystal clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because round at the Games. He lost to the eventual gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's make it through this.' That's why today, before the complement, I did not experience as concerned as I will commonly experience, due to the fact that I had safeguarded an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that demanded surgical treatment for a torn curve two months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and removed his longtime rival in organized collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sport given that 1908-- as well as he avoided 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 job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one last forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his team in the stands-- partaking front of his better half and their pair of kids-- lost his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever, he shed tears and also covered his face, after that advanced and also got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic waved the banner." In the hard instants, he provided it an additional press," Alcaraz said by means of his personal tears. "It harms to lose enjoy this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins despite being decided in simply 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, yet Djokovic gained when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the website made use of for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an appealing match, including some of the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it might possess been actually discouraging for Djokovic to discover himself once again throughout the web from a more youthful, speedier model of himself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic frequently found as well as gestured and also muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." In all honesty, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was the only minute I actually believed I can easily succeed the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long exchanges filled with fantastic ball-striking, ingenious decrease shots-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be more successful, occasionally thus really good Djokovic dropped to also give chase-- and tremendous sprinting, gliding, stretching protection at both ends. They offered thus properly that not either obtained equalized the moment: Djokovic saved 8 breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, maybe, was actually just how cleanly both guys participated in, in spite of the ability of the hostility and stress of the occasion.The only pity, probably, for the enthusiasts-- and also normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Make no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the show, repetitively breaking out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, producing a theatrical fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to mount a return, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois periodically told people to continue to be noiseless throughout the action.Yet the location also became as silent as a theater in between aspects, sufficient to make sure that play was postponed for a while when the air close anticipation was actually pierced through a young kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one decrease shot and down payment it over the web for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction by aiming his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both arms expenses to encourage people that already were standing up and screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, full of impressive gos as well as legendary games. One video game lasted 18 points topped much more than a number of enchanting mins, featuring 5 break chances for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he so commonly is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body offer, however Djokovic moved only sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain winner. After pair of mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner and also counted on face his family with a first held high.Another set, as well as yet another tiebreaker, later, and also Djokovic had that medal that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as carried it to his lips for a kiss.