.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and various other titles, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable achievement overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately obtained one at age 37, as well as it matters not a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and uniformly matched men's tennis singles last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my body, my family members-- my everything-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Awesome battle. Astonishing battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional occupation already included a men's- report 24 Grand Slam trophies and also the absolute most weeks spent atop in the rankings through any type of guy or female. It also presently included a Summer season Olympics award, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he produced it very clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that round at the Gamings. He shed to the possible gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's make it through this set.' That's why today, before the match, I performed not believe as tense as I would usually believe, due to the fact that I had safeguarded a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the best knee that needed surgical procedure for a torn lens 2 months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second cycle and removed his long time rival in straight collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to win the single people gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one last forehand champion, Djokovic transformed towards his crew in the stands-- partaking front of his spouse and also their 2 kids-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he sobbed as well as covered his face, at that point progressed and also nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swung the flag." In the difficult moments, he gave it an additional push," Alcaraz mentioned via his own rips. "It hurts to drop like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins even with being determined in only 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All England Club, yet Djokovic gained when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the internet site used for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating match, featuring among the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the most effective at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it can possess been actually frustrating for Djokovic to discover himself once again all over the web coming from a much younger, speedier model of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic regularly sought out and gestured as well as whispered towards his attendee box.Still, he triumphed." In all honesty, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only second I really believed I can easily succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It demanded long substitutions full of fantastic ball-striking, nimble reduce gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become a lot more productive, sometimes so really good Djokovic dropped to even provide pursuit-- and significant sprinting, gliding, flexing self defense at both ends. They offered therefore effectively that not either received equalized the moment: Djokovic spared 8 break points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was actually exactly how easily both men participated in, even with the skill of the resistance and tension of the occasion.The merely pity, maybe, for the fans-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest events. Create indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the positions entered into the show, continuously breaking out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, generating a sonant fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz attempted to install a resurgence, his advocates began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally told people to continue to be silent during the action.Yet the place also ended up being as quiet as a theatre in between factors, sufficient so that play was actually delayed quickly when the sky thick with apprehension was pierced through a young kid's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to hit one decrease chance and down payment it over the net for a champion, he indulged in the raucous response by directing his right forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both upper arms overhead to urge folks that already were actually standing up and also screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with epic chances as well as impressive games. One game lasted 18 aspects topped more than a loads exciting minutes, featuring five break chances for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he therefore frequently is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system offer, however Djokovic slid just sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return winner. After two blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery victor and relied on face his loved ones along with a clenched fist had high.Another collection, and another tiebreaker, later, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.