.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships as well as other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, actually wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final notable achievement skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at age 37, and never mind a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as evenly matched males's ping pong singles final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my whatever-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Astonishing struggle. Amazing fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding job actually featured a males's- document 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the most weeks spent atop in the rankings through any man or female. It also presently included a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was a bronze-- as well as he made it clear that simply 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 Video games. He dropped to the eventual gold champion each time: 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 felt like, 'OK, allow's survive this.' That is actually why today, before the suit, I did certainly not believe as anxious as I would commonly feel, considering that I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the correct leg that called for surgical operation for a torn crescent 2 months ago, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second round as well as eliminated his longtime competitor in straight collections. Now Djokovic is the oldest man to gain the single people gold in his sport given that 1908-- as well as he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his crew in the stands-- being in front of his other half and also their 2 youngsters-- lost his racket and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he burst into tears as well as covered his face, then progressed as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the hard minutes, he offered it an extra push," Alcaraz said by means of his personal tears. "It hurts to drop such as this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins regardless of being actually made a decision in merely 2 sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the web site used for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating competition, including among the most effective to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could have been frustrating for Djokovic to locate themself once more all over the net coming from a more youthful, faster variation of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic often searched for and gestured and muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was actually the only moment I really believed I may win the suit," Djokovic said.It demanded long swaps loaded with wonderful ball-striking, skilled drop tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become a lot more productive, at times so good Djokovic decreased to also offer pursuit-- and enormous sprinting, moving, extending protection at both ends. They served therefore properly that neither received broken even the moment: Djokovic spared eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was just how cleanly each men played, even with the skill of the resistance and also pressure of the occasion.The merely embarassment, perhaps, for the followers-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Make no mistake, this conflict in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the series, continuously breaking out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, producing an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to install a revival, his promoters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois periodically told people to continue to be silent during the course of the action.Yet the place also came to be as peaceful as a theater between factors, enough to make sure that play was delayed for a while when the air thick with expectancy was actually punctured through a kid's crying.Both men participated in to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one drop chance and down payment it over the internet for a champion, he indulged the rowdy response by aiming his appropriate index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he waved both upper arms expenses to urge people that presently were actually standing and also screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, full of epic gos and also epic activities. One video game lasted 18 aspects topped much more than a number of exciting moments, featuring five break opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he thus typically is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body provide, but Djokovic glided just enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return victor. After 2 oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a volley winner and also looked to experience his loved ones with a hand conducted high.Another collection, and an additional sudden death, later, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he desired, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem completed sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.