.PARIS-- For all of his Conquest champions and also other labels, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, definitely yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually obtained one at age 37, and also it doesn't matter a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and evenly matched guys's tennis singles ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my physical body, my family members-- my every thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Unbelievable struggle. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional job presently included a men's- file 24 Conquest prizes and the best full weeks spent atop in the positions through any type of male or female. It additionally currently contained a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that cycle at the Gamings. He lost to the resulting gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I was like, 'OK, allow's get through this.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I performed not feel as stressed as I would commonly believe, considering that I had actually secured an award." In Paris, using a gray sleeve over the appropriate leg that called for surgical treatment for a torn meniscus pair of months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and also eliminated his long time rival in straight sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest male to win the songs gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, thanks to one final forehand champion, Djokovic transformed toward his team in the stands-- partaking front of his wife and their two kids-- fell his racket as well as knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever before, he wailed and also covered his face, then advanced and got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the hard moments, he provided it an extra push," Alcaraz mentioned through his personal tears. "It harms to drop such as this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments regardless of being decided in simply pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2014's ultimate at the All of England Club, however Djokovic gained when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the website used for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was a fascinating competition, featuring among the most ideal to ever do it in Djokovic, and the most ideal presently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly have been disheartening for Djokovic to find themself once again across the internet from a younger, faster version of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic often looked up and gestured and murmured toward his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was the only instant I in fact thought I can easily win the match," Djokovic said.It called for long exchanges loaded with superb ball-striking, deft decrease chances-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be even more prosperous, at times therefore excellent Djokovic dropped to also offer hunt-- and also remarkable sprinting, sliding, flexing self defense at each ends. They provided therefore properly that neither got broken even the moment: Djokovic saved eight rest points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, possibly, was actually just how cleanly each males played, despite the ability of the hostility as well as pressure of the occasion.The only embarassment, probably, for the followers-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Create indisputable, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands became part of the program, repeatedly bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, generating an operatic fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a comeback, his proponents began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois sometimes told individuals to continue to be soundless throughout the action.Yet the place also came to be as peaceful as a cinema in between points, sufficient to ensure play was actually delayed temporarily when the sky thick with apprehension was actually punctured by a little one's crying.Both men participated in to the group. When Alcaraz competed to reach one decrease go as well as down payment it over the internet for a victor, he basked in the raucous response by directing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the run to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swayed both arms overhead to urge people who currently were standing up and screaming.The very first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with legendary gos as well as impressive activities. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over more than a lots magical minutes, consisting of five break possibilities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic took care of to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he thus often is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system serve, yet Djokovic glided just enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand yield winner. After pair of errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner as well as counted on experience his loved ones along with a clenched fist hosted high.Another set, and one more sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic had that medal that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and brought it to his lips for a caress.