.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest championships and other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, really desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at age 37, and it does not matter a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also evenly matched males's tennis single people last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body system, my family-- my every thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Awesome battle. Unbelievable fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable career already featured a men's- file 24 Grand Slam prizes and also one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the positions by any kind of guy or even girl. It also currently consisted of a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- as well as he created it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the possible gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I was like, 'OK, let's survive this.' That is actually why today, just before the suit, I performed not feel as nervous as I will typically believe, since I had actually gotten a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that needed surgical operation for a torn crescent 2 months ago, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second round and also eliminated his longtime competitor in organized sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest male to gain the single people gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic switched toward his crew in the stands-- being in front of his wife as well as their pair of little ones-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever, he wailed and also covered his face, then rose and also got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic waved the banner." In the tough seconds, he provided it an added push," Alcaraz stated with his personal tears. "It injures to shed like this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments in spite of being actually made a decision in merely 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All England Club, but Djokovic succeeded when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating competition, including among the greatest to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the very best right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possess been actually annoying for Djokovic to find themself once again throughout the net coming from a younger, faster variation of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic often looked up and also gestured and murmured towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was actually the only moment I in fact believed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps full of exceptional ball-striking, nimble reduce shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be more prosperous, at times thus excellent Djokovic dropped to even provide chase-- and incredible sprinting, moving, stretching defense at both ends. They provided so effectively that neither received recovered cost when: Djokovic spared 8 break points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, maybe, was just how safely each guys played, even with the skill of the opposition and tension of the occasion.The merely pity, possibly, for the enthusiasts-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Make indisputable, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the show, consistently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, making an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz sought to install a return, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois sometimes told people to stay silent in the course of the action.Yet the area also ended up being as quiet as a cinema between points, good enough to ensure that play was postponed briefly when the sky thick with expectancy was actually punctured through a kid's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one decline go as well as down payment it over the web for a victor, he basked in the raucous reaction through aiming his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both arms expenses to motivate people that actually were standing up and also screaming.The first collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, full of legendary tries and impressive games. One activity lasted 18 points topped greater than a dozen thrilling moments, consisting of 5 break chances for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to carry for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he so usually is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system offer, but Djokovic glided only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner as well as relied on experience his household with a clenched fist conducted high.Another collection, and another sudden death, later, as well as Djokovic possessed that medal that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as brought it to his lips for a kiss.