.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest champions and also various other headlines, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, truly wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable accomplishment overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually obtained one at age 37, and never mind a little bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also evenly matched guys's tennis single people final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my physical body, my family members-- my every thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Awesome battle. Incredible battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent job currently included a guys's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and the absolute most full weeks devoted atop in the positions by any sort of man or woman. It also currently contained a Summer season Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was a bronze-- as well as he created it crystal clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He lost to the ultimate 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 encountering Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this.' That's why today, just before the complement, I carried out certainly not experience as worried as I will usually experience, because I had protected an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the appropriate knee that demanded surgical treatment for a torn crescent 2 months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round and removed his longtime rival in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is the earliest guy to win the single people gold in his sport because 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one final forehand winner, Djokovic turned towards his crew in the stands-- sitting in front of his partner and their 2 children-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he wailed as well as covered his face, after that advanced and also nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the challenging instants, he gave it an added push," Alcaraz pointed out via his very own tears. "It injures to drop enjoy this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes regardless of being actually chosen in simply two sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic gained when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an enthralling match, featuring some of the very best to ever perform it in Djokovic, and the most effective currently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly have been actually frustrating for Djokovic to locate themself once more across the net from a much younger, faster variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently found as well as gesticulated and sputtered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only second I in fact thought I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It required long exchanges loaded with superb ball-striking, ingenious decrease shots-- Alcaraz's tended to become even more productive, often therefore good Djokovic declined to also give pursuit-- and incredible sprinting, gliding, flexing defense at both ends. They served thus properly that not either obtained broken even as soon as: Djokovic spared 8 breather factors, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, possibly, was just how easily each men participated in, despite the ability of the opposition and stress of the occasion.The simply shame, perhaps, for the fans-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Create indisputable, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the show, consistently bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, making a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to mount a revival, his promoters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois from time to time told folks to continue to be soundless throughout the action.Yet the location additionally came to be as peaceful as a theater between points, sufficient to make sure that play was postponed briefly when the sky close apprehension was actually punctured by a little one's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to reach one decline chance as well as deposit it over the net for a champion, he basked in the rowdy reaction by aiming his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swung both upper arms overhead to encourage people that presently were actually standing as well as screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with legendary chances and also epic video games. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a loads mesmerizing minutes, consisting of 5 rest chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he therefore often is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system provide, however Djokovic moved just sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return champion. After two oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and looked to face his household with a fist conducted high.Another collection, and yet another sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for a kiss.