.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions and also various other titles, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final notable achievement missing out on coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at age 37, and no matter a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as uniformly matched guys's tennis songs final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my soul, my soul, my body, my family members-- my everything-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Awesome struggle. Extraordinary battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable occupation presently included a males's- document 24 Conquest prizes and the most weeks invested atop in the positions through any kind of male or even woman. It additionally presently included a Summer season Olympics medal, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- and he created it 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 during that cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the eventual gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's get through this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the fit, I performed not experience as nervous as I will ordinarily think, considering that I had gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the ideal leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn meniscus 2 months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second round and removed his longtime opponent in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is the earliest male to gain the singles gold in his sport given that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the stands-- partaking front of his better half and their pair of children-- dropped his racket and also knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he wept and also covered his face, then advanced as well as took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the challenging instants, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz stated via his own rips. "It harms to drop enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins in spite of being determined in merely pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in last year's final at the All of England Nightclub, yet Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the website made use of for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an appealing matchup, including one of the greatest to ever do it in Djokovic, and also the most effective presently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it might possess been annoying for Djokovic to discover himself once more throughout the internet from a younger, faster model of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic frequently looked up and also gestured and also murmured toward his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was the only instant I in fact presumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions loaded with fantastic ball-striking, ingenious decline gos-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become extra effective, at times therefore good Djokovic declined to also provide hunt-- and also remarkable sprinting, sliding, flexing protection at both ends. They provided so properly that not either obtained broken even the moment: Djokovic conserved 8 rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, perhaps, was how safely each males played, regardless of the talent of the opposition and also pressure of the occasion.The only shame, perhaps, for the fans-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Produce indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the series, consistently bursting out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, developing a sonant fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz attempted to install a return, his proponents started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois sometimes told folks to continue to be quiet in the course of the action.Yet the area additionally ended up being as quiet as a theater between aspects, sufficient so that play was put off quickly when the air close expectancy was punctured by a little one's crying.Both guys participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to get to one reduce chance and deposit it over the internet for a victor, he basked in the raucous response by aiming his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swung both upper arms overhead to encourage individuals that currently were actually standing up and also screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic gos and legendary activities. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a loads thrilling moments, featuring five break odds for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in , as he so typically is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, but Djokovic slid merely sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit winner. After two mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner and also relied on encounter his household with a hand conducted high.Another collection, and an additional tiebreaker, later, and also Djokovic possessed that award that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as took it to his lips for an embrace.