.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest champions and also other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, actually yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final substantial achievement overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at grow older 37, as well as it doesn't matter a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as evenly matched males's tennis single people last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my center, my soul, my physical body, my household-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Extraordinary struggle. Fabulous fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional occupation actually included a males's- file 24 Conquest prizes as well as one of the most full weeks invested atop in the positions through any man or girl. It additionally currently contained a Summer season Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He lost to the resulting gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I felt like, 'OK, let's make it through this set.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I performed certainly not believe as nervous as I would usually believe, given that I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the ideal leg that demanded surgical procedure for a torn meniscus two months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round as well as eliminated his long time rival in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is the earliest male to win the single people gold in his sport since 1908-- and also he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st occupation gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his staff in the stands-- being in front of his wife and also their pair of kids-- fell his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever, he wept as well as covered his face, after that progressed and nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the challenging minutes, he gave it an added press," Alcaraz said with his very own rips. "It injures to lose such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes in spite of being actually decided in just pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All of England Club, however Djokovic gained when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the website made use of for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing competition, including one of the greatest to ever perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it might have been annoying for Djokovic to find himself once again all over the internet coming from a much younger, speedier variation of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic often looked up and also gestured and also whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was actually the only instant I really presumed I may gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long exchanges filled with wonderful ball-striking, nimble drop gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become even more effective, at times therefore excellent Djokovic declined to even provide pursuit-- and significant sprinting, moving, flexing defense at each ends. They served therefore properly that neither got equalized as soon as: Djokovic saved 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was just how easily each men participated in, in spite of the ability of the resistance and stress of the occasion.The merely pity, probably, for the enthusiasts-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Help make indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the series, frequently bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, generating an orchestral fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to install a rebound, his advocates started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to remain soundless in the course of the action.Yet the spot also ended up being as peaceful as a theater between aspects, sufficient in order that play was actually put off quickly when the air thick with apprehension was actually punctured by a child's crying.Both males participated in to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decrease try and deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction by aiming his right forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both arms expenses to encourage folks who actually were actually standing up as well as screaming.The very first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with legendary tries and impressive video games. One activity lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a dozen exciting moments, featuring five break opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic took care of to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in , as he thus usually is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system offer, however Djokovic glided simply enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return winner. After pair of mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery victor as well as turned to encounter his family with a hand held high.Another set, as well as another tiebreaker, later on, as well as Djokovic had that award that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.