.PARIS-- For all of his Conquest champions and various other titles, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, definitely preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable accomplishment overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at grow older 37, and also it matters not a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as equally matched males's tennis single people ultimate at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my physical body, my family-- my every thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Astonishing battle. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive career actually featured a guys's- document 24 Grand Slam trophies and also one of the most weeks invested atop in the ranks through any man or woman. It additionally actually consisted of a Summer months Olympics award, from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- as well as he made it very clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He shed to the resulting gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I felt like, 'OK, permit's survive this set.' That is actually why today, just before the suit, I carried out certainly not feel as tense as I would generally experience, considering that I had actually safeguarded an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the correct knee that needed surgical treatment for a torn meniscus 2 months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round as well as eliminated his longtime opponent in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is the earliest male to gain the single people gold in his sport given that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic switched towards his team in the stands-- being in front of his partner as well as their 2 children-- fell his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he shed tears and covered his face, at that point progressed and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the hard instants, he gave it an added push," Alcaraz stated by means of his own tears. "It harms to drop like this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes despite being actually chosen in only two sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, however Djokovic won when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling match, including some of the very best to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the greatest at the moment in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly have been disheartening for Djokovic to discover themself once more throughout the web from a more youthful, faster model of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic regularly found as well as gesticulated and muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was the only instant I really assumed I may succeed the match," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of outstanding ball-striking, ingenious decline shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be much more effective, occasionally so great Djokovic decreased to even provide pursuit-- as well as incredible sprinting, moving, extending defense at each ends. They provided thus properly that not either received recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic spared 8 rest points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was how precisely each men participated in, despite the talent of the resistance and pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, probably, for the followers-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the series, frequently bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, making a sonant fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz tried to place a return, his advocates began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically advised people to continue to be quiet during the course of the action.Yet the place likewise ended up being as quiet as a cinema in between points, enough in order that play was delayed quickly when the air thick with expectancy was pierced by a kid's crying.Both guys played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one decrease shot as well as deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged the rowdy response through pointing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cover a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms overhead to urge people that already were actually standing and also screaming.The very first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with epic gos as well as legendary games. One game lasted 18 points spread over greater than a number of exciting minutes, including five rest possibilities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he therefore usually is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body offer, but Djokovic slid merely sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand yield winner. After two mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley champion and also relied on encounter his family with a fist held high.Another set, and yet another sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.