.PARIS-- For all of his Conquest champions and also various other labels, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, definitely wished an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable success overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately got one at grow older 37, and also never mind a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also uniformly matched men's ping pong singles last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my whatever-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Astonishing battle. Awesome fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable job currently featured a men's- document 24 Conquest prizes and also the best full weeks invested atop in the rankings through any male or even girl. It also actually contained a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Video games. He shed to the resulting gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's survive this one.' That is actually why today, just before the fit, I performed not think as tense as I will normally believe, since I had protected an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the ideal leg that called for surgical treatment for a torn lens pair of months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd round and also eliminated his long time rival in organized collections. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the single people gold in his sport because 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the stands-- sitting in front of his spouse as well as their pair of children-- lost his racket and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever, he sobbed and covered his face, at that point increased as well as nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the difficult seconds, he provided it an extra press," Alcaraz pointed out through his very own tears. "It harms to lose like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins regardless of being actually chosen in only pair of sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All of England Nightclub, however Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the website made use of for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an appealing matchup, including some of the best to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and the greatest at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possibly have been actually annoying for Djokovic to discover himself once again across the internet from a much younger, speedier version of himself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic often looked up and also gestured and also murmured toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was the only minute I really believed I can win the match," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps full of fantastic ball-striking, nimble decrease chances-- Alcaraz's tended to be even more effective, in some cases therefore good Djokovic dropped to also offer pursuit-- and tremendous sprinting, gliding, flexing self defense at both ends. They offered thus properly that not either received equalized once: Djokovic saved 8 breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, probably, was how cleanly both men played, regardless of the talent of the opposition and tension of the occasion.The only shame, possibly, for the followers-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Create no mistake, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the positions became part of the series, frequently breaking out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, producing a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a return, his fans began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind people to stay soundless during the course of the action.Yet the spot additionally came to be as silent as a theater between points, good enough so that play was actually postponed briefly when the sky close expectancy was pierced by a child's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decline chance and also deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged in the raucous response by pointing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swung both upper arms overhead to encourage folks that actually were actually standing up as well as screaming.The first collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with epic chances as well as legendary activities. One activity lasted 18 points spread over more than a lots exciting mins, including 5 rest possibilities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus often is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body offer, however Djokovic moved simply good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery champion as well as turned to face his family members along with a first held high.Another set, and also an additional tiebreaker, eventually, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he desired, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem completed ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.