.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam champions as well as various other headlines, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, truly wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial success missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally got one at grow older 37, as well as never mind a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and uniformly matched males's tennis singles ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body, my family-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Unbelievable war. Astonishing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding occupation presently featured a men's- report 24 Conquest prizes and also the most weeks invested atop in the rankings by any kind of guy or even lady. It also actually consisted of a Summer season Olympics medal, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he created it very clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Video games. He shed to the possible gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the fit, I carried out certainly not experience as nervous as I would usually believe, considering that I had actually secured an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the right knee that called for surgical procedure for a torn lens two months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as eliminated his long time opponent in organized collections. Currently Djokovic is the oldest male to win the single people gold in his sporting activity given that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand winner, Djokovic turned towards his staff in the positions-- partaking front of his partner and their two youngsters-- dropped his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever before, he sobbed as well as covered his face, then advanced and took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the difficult minutes, he provided it an additional press," Alcaraz claimed with his very own splits. "It injures to drop similar to this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty minutes even with being decided in simply pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic gained when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating matchup, including some of the best to ever perform it in Djokovic, as well as the very best right now in Alcaraz. Indeed, it might have been actually frustrating for Djokovic to find himself once more around the internet coming from a much younger, faster version of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic frequently looked up and also gesticulated and sputtered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." In all honesty, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only second I in fact assumed I may win the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps loaded with superb ball-striking, deft reduce gos-- Alcaraz's often tended to be much more effective, in some cases so really good Djokovic dropped to even give chase-- and also significant sprinting, sliding, extending self defense at both ends. They served so effectively that neither received equalized the moment: Djokovic conserved 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, perhaps, was actually exactly how easily each males played, even with the talent of the resistance as well as tension of the occasion.The only embarassment, perhaps, for the fans-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Help make no mistake, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the series, repeatedly breaking out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, creating a sonant fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz tried to install a rebound, his followers began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes told people to remain quiet during the action.Yet the place likewise became as silent as a cinema between points, sufficient in order that play was actually delayed quickly when the sky thick with expectancy was pierced through a child's crying.Both men participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to reach one drop shot and also down payment it over the internet for a champion, he indulged in the raucous response through aiming his appropriate index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swayed both arms overhead to urge folks that already were standing and also screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with epic shots and impressive activities. One activity lasted 18 aspects spread over much more than a lots exciting moments, featuring 5 break possibilities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic handled to carry for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in , as he so frequently is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system provide, however Djokovic slid just enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return champion. After two errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner as well as looked to face his family with a fist hosted high.Another set, and yet another sudden death, later, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and carried it to his lips for an embrace.