.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships and also other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, definitely yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually acquired one at age 37, as well as it matters not a little bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also evenly matched males's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my center, my soul, my physical body, my family members-- my everything-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Incredible struggle. Amazing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent occupation presently featured a males's- report 24 Conquest prizes as well as the absolute most full weeks devoted atop in the positions by any type of man or woman. It likewise already contained a Summer months Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and he made it clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that round at the Gamings. He lost to the possible gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I resembled, 'OK, let's make it through this.' That is actually why today, prior to the fit, I did not think as stressed as I will normally believe, since I had secured an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the ideal leg that demanded surgical operation for a torn meniscus pair of months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round and eliminated his long time rival in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is the oldest man to win the songs gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one last forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the positions-- sitting in front of his other half as well as their 2 kids-- dropped his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever before, he wept and covered his face, then progressed and also ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the tough seconds, he gave it an extra push," Alcaraz said through his personal rips. "It hurts to drop enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes regardless of being actually chosen in just pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, yet Djokovic succeeded when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event held at Roland Garros, the site utilized for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling match, featuring some of the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possess been discouraging for Djokovic to discover himself once again all over the internet coming from a much younger, faster model of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently looked up and also gesticulated and also whispered toward his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was actually the only minute I in fact assumed I can gain the suit," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps filled with fantastic ball-striking, deft decline tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become more effective, in some cases so really good Djokovic declined to also offer pursuit-- as well as tremendous sprinting, sliding, flexing protection at each ends. They provided therefore well that not either received recovered cost the moment: Djokovic saved eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, maybe, was exactly how precisely each males played, despite the ability of the hostility and also tension of the occasion.The just shame, maybe, for the supporters-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Make indisputable, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the program, repeatedly breaking out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, developing an operatic fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to mount a comeback, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to remain silent in the course of the action.Yet the spot additionally came to be as peaceful as a cinema between factors, good enough so that play was delayed temporarily when the sky close expectancy was actually punctured by a young kid's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one decline shot as well as down payment it over the web for a champion, he indulged the raucous reaction by pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cap a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both upper arms expenses to urge people who actually were standing and also screaming.The first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with legendary chances as well as impressive video games. One game lasted 18 factors topped greater than a dozen mesmerizing moments, consisting of 5 rest possibilities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he so often is actually, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body offer, but Djokovic glided only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After 2 mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery champion and turned to encounter his family members with a fist held high.Another collection, and also one more sudden death, eventually, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also delivered it to his lips for a kiss.