.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions and also various other headlines, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, truly desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable accomplishment skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally got one at grow older 37, as well as it does not matter a bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also equally matched males's tennis singles ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my center, my soul, my physical body, my family members-- my everything-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Amazing war. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent career currently included a men's- record 24 Conquest prizes and the most full weeks devoted atop in the rankings through any type of male or female. It also actually included a Summertime Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- as well as he produced it very clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that round at the Games. He lost to the possible gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I resembled, 'OK, let's make it through this set.' That is actually why today, just before the fit, I did certainly not experience as anxious as I will ordinarily experience, due to the fact that I had actually secured an award." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that needed surgical procedure for a torn meniscus pair of months back, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd cycle and also eliminated his long time opponent in straight collections. Now Djokovic is the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic switched toward his crew in the stands-- partaking front of his other half and also their two children-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he sobbed and covered his face, after that advanced and also ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the hard instants, he gave it an added push," Alcaraz said via his very own tears. "It hurts to lose such as this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 moments despite being chosen in just pair of sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in last year's final at the All of England Nightclub, yet Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the website used for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an enthralling match, including one of the greatest to ever perform it in Djokovic, as well as the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it might have been frustrating for Djokovic to locate themself once more all over the net coming from a much younger, speedier version of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly looked up and also gestured and whispered towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only moment I in fact believed I can win the match," Djokovic said.It required long swaps loaded with excellent ball-striking, ingenious decrease tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become much more successful, in some cases thus great Djokovic decreased to also give chase-- and remarkable sprinting, gliding, extending protection at both ends. They served thus properly that not either received recovered cost once: Djokovic conserved 8 break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, maybe, was actually how safely both males participated in, regardless of the talent of the hostility as well as pressure of the occasion.The only shame, possibly, for the fans-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Produce indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands became part of the program, repetitively breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, developing an orchestral fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a resurgence, his advocates started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois occasionally advised people to remain quiet during the action.Yet the area likewise became as quiet as a theatre in between points, enough so that play was postponed for a while when the air close anticipation was actually punctured by a young child's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one decline try and also down payment it over the internet for a champion, he indulged the rowdy reaction by directing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swung both upper arms cost to motivate folks that currently were standing up and screaming.The first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, filled with impressive chances and legendary video games. One activity lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a number of mesmerizing moments, including five break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic handled to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he therefore frequently is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body provide, but Djokovic slid merely enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand yield winner. After pair of errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and also looked to experience his household along with a fist conducted high.Another collection, and also yet another tiebreaker, later, as well as Djokovic had that award that he desired, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as carried it to his lips for a caress.