.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam champions and other titles, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last significant achievement overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually acquired one at age 37, and also it does not matter a little bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as uniformly matched guys's ping pong songs ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body system, my family-- my whatever-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Astonishing battle. Fabulous fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding profession actually included a males's- document 24 Conquest trophies and also the most weeks devoted atop in the positions through any type of man or female. It likewise actually included a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and he produced it crystal clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He lost to the ultimate gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, let's survive this set.' That is actually why today, before the match, I performed not think as concerned as I will ordinarily experience, considering that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the best leg that needed surgery for a torn meniscus pair of months ago, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle and also eliminated his longtime opponent in straight collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity because 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one final forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his group in the stands-- being in front of his other half and also their 2 little ones-- lost his noise and also knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he shed tears and also covered his face, at that point advanced and also got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic waved the flag." In the tough instants, he gave it an extra press," Alcaraz stated through his personal tears. "It harms to lose like this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments regardless of being chosen in merely two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, however 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 during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling competition, including one of the greatest to ever perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest presently in Alcaraz. Indeed, it could have been actually irritating for Djokovic to locate themself once more across the net from a younger, faster model of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently looked up as well as gesticulated and whispered toward his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." Truthfully, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only second I in fact presumed I can easily win the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions loaded with wonderful ball-striking, deft drop gos-- Alcaraz's often tended to be a lot more productive, at times therefore great Djokovic decreased to also provide pursuit-- as well as significant sprinting, moving, extending protection at both ends. They served therefore effectively that neither obtained broken even once: Djokovic saved eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was how precisely each guys played, despite the talent of the opposition and also stress of the occasion.The just embarassment, possibly, for the supporters-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create no mistake, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the positions became part of the show, repeatedly breaking out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, generating an operatic fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a resurgence, his advocates started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois from time to time told people to continue to be quiet during the action.Yet the place likewise came to be as silent as a cinema between aspects, sufficient to ensure play was actually put off quickly when the sky thick with expectancy was pierced through a kid's crying.Both guys played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one drop chance and also down payment it over the web for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction by directing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both arms cost to urge folks who presently were actually standing as well as screaming.The very first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, filled with impressive gos and also epic games. One activity lasted 18 aspects spread over greater than a lots magical moments, including 5 break odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore frequently is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body offer, but Djokovic moved just sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain winner. After pair of mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a volley victor and turned to encounter his family members along with a clenched fist conducted high.Another collection, as well as an additional tiebreaker, later, and also Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for a kiss.