.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and various other headlines, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final notable success missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately got one at grow older 37, and no matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also uniformly matched guys's ping pong single people final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Awesome struggle. Fabulous fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent career already included a guys's- file 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the absolute most weeks spent atop in the rankings through any sort of male or girl. It likewise presently included a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he made it crystal clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that cycle at the Games. He dropped to the resulting gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this.' That's why today, just before the match, I did certainly not feel as concerned as I will generally experience, considering that I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the right knee that required surgical operation for a torn curve pair of months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second round and also eliminated his longtime rival in straight sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the singles gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, with the help of one last forehand victor, Djokovic switched toward his group in the stands-- being in front of his wife and their pair of children-- lost his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he sobbed and covered his face, at that point advanced as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the tough seconds, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz stated via his personal splits. "It harms to shed enjoy this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins even with being actually chosen in only two collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, but Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the web site used for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling competition, including one of the greatest to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the most effective at the moment in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it might have been actually irritating for Djokovic to find himself once more throughout the internet coming from a younger, speedier model of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic frequently found and gesticulated and also muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was the only instant I really thought I may succeed the match," Djokovic said.It needed long exchanges loaded with outstanding ball-striking, quick decrease tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be more successful, at times therefore great Djokovic declined to even provide pursuit-- as well as incredible sprinting, gliding, flexing protection at both ends. They provided so properly that neither obtained broken even as soon as: Djokovic saved 8 rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, perhaps, was how safely each guys participated in, regardless of the skill of the opposition as well as tension of the occasion.The simply shame, possibly, for the enthusiasts-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Make no mistake, this conflict in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the show, repeatedly breaking out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, creating an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz tried to position a return, his proponents began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois periodically told individuals to stay quiet throughout the action.Yet the place also ended up being as silent as a cinema between points, good enough so that play was postponed quickly when the sky thick with apprehension was actually punctured by a young child's crying.Both guys participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one drop shot and deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged in the rowdy response through directing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms expenses to urge folks who actually were standing up as well as screaming.The initial collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with legendary gos as well as legendary video games. One video game lasted 18 points spread over much more than a lots exciting mins, consisting of 5 break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic managed to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus typically is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body offer, but Djokovic slid just good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return winner. After two errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley victor as well as looked to experience his family with a hand hosted high.Another set, and one more tiebreaker, eventually, and Djokovic had that award that he preferred, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also took it to his lips for a caress.