.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam champions as well as other labels, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last substantial achievement overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at grow older 37, and also it doesn't matter a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also equally matched guys's ping pong single people last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my body, my family members-- my everything-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Fabulous battle. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable job actually featured a males's- document 24 Conquest trophies and the best weeks invested atop in the rankings through any kind of guy or even female. It likewise presently included a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- as well as he made it clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He lost to the resulting gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's survive this one.' That is actually why today, before the fit, I performed not feel as worried as I would typically experience, given that I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the appropriate leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn lens two months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round and also removed his long time competitor in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one final forehand winner, Djokovic transformed toward his staff in the stands-- being in front of his spouse as well as their two children-- dropped his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he burst into tears and covered his face, then progressed and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the tough instants, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz claimed through his very own rips. "It harms to drop similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments in spite of being decided in just pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise beat Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All of England Club, but Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the web site used for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing competition, featuring some of the very best to ever perform it in Djokovic, and also the very best right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could have been actually annoying for Djokovic to find themself once more across the internet coming from a much younger, faster variation of themself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic frequently sought out as well as gesticulated and also muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was actually the only instant I in fact assumed I can succeed the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long substitutions full of excellent ball-striking, skilled decline chances-- Alcaraz's tended to become a lot more productive, often thus great Djokovic dropped to even offer hunt-- and enormous sprinting, gliding, extending protection at each ends. They offered so effectively that neither obtained recovered cost once: Djokovic saved eight break factors, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, maybe, was how easily both males played, even with the skill of the hostility and pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, maybe, for the supporters-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Produce no mistake, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands entered into the show, consistently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, generating an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to position a return, his proponents started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois from time to time advised individuals to stay soundless during the action.Yet the location also became as peaceful as a cinema between points, sufficient to ensure play was postponed temporarily when the air thick with anticipation was actually punctured by a kid's crying.Both guys played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one decrease shot and down payment it over the net for a victor, he basked in the rowdy response by pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms expenses to promote individuals who already were standing up and also screaming.The initial set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, packed with epic gos and epic video games. One game lasted 18 factors spread over more than a lots magical minutes, including five rest possibilities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he thus often is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system provide, yet Djokovic glided just enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a volley winner as well as looked to encounter his family members along with a fist held high.Another set, as well as an additional tiebreaker, eventually, and Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for a caress.