.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest champions and various other labels, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, really yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final significant accomplishment missing out on coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at age 37, and also it does not matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also evenly matched men's ping pong songs ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my body, my loved ones-- my every thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Unbelievable battle. Incredible battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive occupation currently included a males's- report 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the most weeks devoted atop in the positions through any male or even lady. It additionally currently had a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he produced it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because round at the Gamings. He shed to the eventual gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I felt like, 'OK, let's survive this.' That's why today, prior to the suit, I carried out not think as anxious as I would typically feel, considering that I had gotten a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the right leg that required surgical procedure for a torn crescent pair of months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second cycle and removed his long time rival in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest male to gain the single people gold in his sporting activity given that 1908-- and also he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic switched toward his team in the positions-- sitting in front of his spouse and also their pair of kids-- dropped his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he sobbed and covered his face, after that advanced and also took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic waved the flag." In the hard seconds, he provided it an added push," Alcaraz claimed through his own tears. "It harms to lose similar to this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments regardless of being decided in just pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All England Club, however Djokovic succeeded when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the site utilized for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an appealing matchup, including some of the greatest to ever perform it in Djokovic, and the most effective right now in Alcaraz. Indeed, it might possess been actually discouraging for Djokovic to discover themself once again throughout the web coming from a much younger, faster model of themself. Possibly that's why Djokovic regularly searched for and gestured as well as whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was actually the only minute I in fact assumed I can easily gain the suit," Djokovic said.It required long swaps full of excellent ball-striking, nimble reduce tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be extra successful, occasionally thus excellent Djokovic dropped to also provide chase-- as well as remarkable sprinting, gliding, flexing self defense at each ends. They served so well that neither got equalized the moment: Djokovic spared 8 rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, perhaps, was actually how safely each males participated in, regardless of the skill of the opposition and pressure of the occasion.The merely pity, perhaps, for the fans-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set format, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Produce no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the series, continuously breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, making an operatic fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to place a revival, his fans began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind individuals to remain silent in the course of the action.Yet the location likewise became as peaceful as a theater between aspects, good enough to make sure that play was delayed briefly when the sky close apprehension was punctured by a kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to hit one decrease try and deposit it over the web for a winner, he indulged the rowdy reaction through aiming his best index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he waved both arms cost to encourage individuals that actually were standing and also screaming.The first collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, packed with epic tries as well as legendary games. One game lasted 18 points topped much more than a loads exciting mins, including five rest odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic handled to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he so commonly is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system provide, yet Djokovic slid merely good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return champion. After 2 errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery winner and turned to face his family members with a hand conducted high.Another collection, and also an additional sudden death, later on, and also Djokovic had that award that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for an embrace.