.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions and various other labels, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, definitely yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial achievement missing out on coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately obtained one at age 37, and no matter a bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as equally matched guys's ping pong single people final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my physical body, my family members-- my every little thing-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Extraordinary battle. Incredible battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive occupation presently included a males's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the absolute most full weeks spent atop in the positions through any sort of male or even female. It also already had a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and he produced it crystal 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 cycle at the Gamings. He shed to the resulting gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic said, "I felt like, 'OK, let's get through this set.' That is actually why today, before the complement, I carried out certainly not experience as tense as I would typically experience, considering that I had safeguarded an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that needed surgical operation for a torn curve pair of months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle as well as eliminated his longtime rival in organized collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest male to gain the singles gold in his sporting activity because 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one final forehand champion, Djokovic transformed toward his crew in the positions-- sitting in front of his partner and also their 2 little ones-- lost his noise as well as knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever, he wailed and also covered his face, then rose as well as got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the challenging minutes, he provided it an added press," Alcaraz stated by means of his own rips. "It hurts to drop enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments despite being actually decided in merely pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All England Club, yet Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the website made use of for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating competition, featuring some of the greatest to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the most ideal at the moment in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it might possess been actually disheartening for Djokovic to locate themself once more around the net from a much younger, faster variation of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic regularly looked up as well as gestured and whispered towards his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was actually the only second I in fact thought I can easily succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It required long exchanges full of excellent ball-striking, deft drop chances-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become a lot more productive, in some cases thus great Djokovic dropped to even offer pursuit-- and remarkable sprinting, moving, extending self defense at each ends. They served therefore well that not either obtained recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic saved eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, probably, was actually how cleanly each males participated in, even with the ability of the hostility and also stress of the occasion.The just shame, maybe, for the enthusiasts-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Produce no mistake, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the show, repeatedly bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, developing a sonant fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz attempted to place a comeback, his proponents started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally advised people to stay silent during the course of the action.Yet the area additionally became as silent as a cinema in between points, good enough to make sure that play was put off quickly when the air thick with anticipation was punctured through a kid's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one decline chance as well as down payment it over the internet for a winner, he basked in the raucous reaction through directing his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both upper arms overhead to urge individuals who actually were standing up and also screaming.The 1st set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with impressive gos and impressive games. One activity lasted 18 factors topped more than a loads mesmerizing moments, consisting of five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he therefore commonly is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body serve, yet Djokovic slid merely enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery victor as well as relied on experience his family members along with a first conducted high.Another set, and also an additional tiebreaker, later on, and Djokovic had that award that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as delivered it to his lips for a kiss.