.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam championships and other headlines, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final notable accomplishment missing out on from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually acquired one at age 37, as well as it does not matter a little 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 tennis single people ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my heart, my spirit, my body, my family-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Incredible struggle. Fabulous battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent profession actually included a guys's- document 24 Conquest trophies and also one of the most full weeks invested atop in the rankings by any sort of man or girl. It also actually contained a Summertime Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- as well as he created it very clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Video games. He lost to the eventual gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I performed not believe as anxious as I will generally think, due to the fact that I had actually protected a medal." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the ideal leg that required surgery for a torn crescent pair of months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second round and removed his long time competitor in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is the oldest man to win the single people gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, thanks to one final forehand winner, Djokovic switched toward his staff in the positions-- being in front of his spouse and also their 2 youngsters-- lost his racket and knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever, he cried and also covered his face, after that increased and took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swung the flag." In the tough seconds, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz stated by means of his own rips. "It hurts to shed similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments regardless of being chosen in just pair of sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, however Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing matchup, featuring one of the very best to ever perform it in Djokovic, and the most ideal at the moment in Alcaraz. Definitely, it can possess been actually annoying for Djokovic to discover themself once again all over the internet coming from a younger, faster variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently found as well as gestured and sputtered towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was actually the only instant I really presumed I may win the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long exchanges full of terrific ball-striking, nimble decrease tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to become a lot more effective, in some cases therefore really good Djokovic declined to also offer pursuit-- and incredible sprinting, moving, flexing defense at both ends. They served thus well that not either obtained broken even once: Djokovic conserved eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, possibly, was actually just how cleanly both men played, in spite of the talent of the resistance and also tension of the occasion.The just embarassment, perhaps, for the enthusiasts-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Make no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands entered into the show, frequently bursting out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, producing a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to position a return, his supporters started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois sometimes reminded people to stay soundless during the course of the action.Yet the spot additionally became as quiet as a movie theater in between aspects, good enough so that play was postponed temporarily when the air thick with apprehension was punctured by a young child's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to hit one drop chance and also deposit it over the net for a champion, he indulged the rowdy reaction through pointing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both arms overhead to promote people that already were actually standing as well as screaming.The first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with impressive gos and epic games. One activity lasted 18 factors topped much more than a number of enchanting mins, featuring five break opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus frequently is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system offer, however Djokovic moved simply good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit champion. After two errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery victor and also turned to experience his household with a first had high.Another collection, and yet another sudden death, later on, and Djokovic had that award that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.