.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam champions and also various other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, actually wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final substantial success overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at age 37, and it doesn't matter a little how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as equally matched males's tennis songs ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body system, my loved ones-- my everything-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Amazing war. Extraordinary battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive profession actually included a guys's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and the best weeks spent atop in the positions through any type of guy or even female. It likewise currently contained a Summertime Olympics award, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he made it clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that cycle at the Video games. He dropped to the resulting gold champion each opportunity: 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 claimed, "I resembled, 'OK, let's get through this set.' That's why today, prior to the complement, I carried out not think as stressed as I will generally believe, because I had actually secured an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the best leg that called for surgery for a torn curve 2 months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle and also removed his longtime rival in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st occupation gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed toward his team in the stands-- sitting in front of his other half and their two youngsters-- fell his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he wept and also covered his face, after that advanced and nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the challenging moments, he offered it an additional press," Alcaraz claimed with his very own splits. "It harms to lose similar to this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins despite being determined in merely two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All England Club, however Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event held at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing match, featuring among the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the most effective at the moment in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could have been disheartening for Djokovic to find himself once more all over the web from a younger, speedier variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic often searched for and also gesticulated and murmured toward his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." Truthfully, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was actually the only moment I in fact believed I can win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps loaded with excellent ball-striking, ingenious decrease gos-- Alcaraz's tended to become a lot more successful, occasionally thus really good Djokovic declined to also offer hunt-- and also tremendous sprinting, sliding, flexing self defense at each ends. They offered so well that not either acquired broken even once: Djokovic spared 8 break factors, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, perhaps, was actually how easily each men played, despite the ability of the resistance and pressure of the occasion.The just shame, maybe, for the supporters-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Help make indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the series, consistently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, creating an orchestral fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to position a comeback, his supporters began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically reminded individuals to remain soundless in the course of the action.Yet the spot additionally came to be as silent as a movie theater in between factors, good enough in order that play was postponed for a while when the sky close expectancy was punctured by a little one's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz competed to hit one decline shot as well as deposit it over the net for a champion, he basked in the rowdy reaction through aiming his best index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the go to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both upper arms overhead to promote individuals that already were standing up and also screaming.The very first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic shots and epic games. One game lasted 18 points spread over greater than a number of magical moments, including five rest odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic managed to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he thus often is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body offer, yet Djokovic moved just sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return victor. After two errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley victor and also counted on experience his loved ones along with a hand conducted high.Another collection, as well as yet another tiebreaker, later, as well as Djokovic possessed that award that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and delivered it to his lips for an embrace.