.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest champions and also various other headlines, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually wished an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable accomplishment missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally obtained one at age 37, and also no matter a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as uniformly matched guys's tennis songs last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my center, my spirit, my body, my family members-- my every little thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Amazing war. Extraordinary battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent job already featured a men's- document 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the absolute most weeks spent atop in the positions through any sort of guy or woman. It additionally presently consisted of a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and also he made it crystal clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that round at the Video games. He shed to the resulting gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic said, "I was like, 'OK, permit's survive this.' That is actually why today, before the fit, I performed not believe as anxious as I will commonly believe, because I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the best leg that called for surgical treatment for a torn meniscus 2 months earlier, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second cycle and also eliminated his longtime opponent in organized collections. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the single people gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and also he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic switched towards his group in the positions-- being in front of his partner as well as their pair of children-- dropped his racket and also knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he sobbed and also covered his face, then rose as well as nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the challenging moments, he gave it an extra press," Alcaraz mentioned via his personal splits. "It hurts to drop like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins even with being determined in only 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All of England Club, but Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the website utilized for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an appealing competition, including some of the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the greatest at the moment in Alcaraz. Indeed, it might have been actually discouraging for Djokovic to discover himself once again all over the internet coming from a younger, speedier variation of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic frequently found and also gestured as well as whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was actually the only second I actually believed I may gain the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long exchanges full of wonderful ball-striking, deft decrease gos-- Alcaraz's tended to be a lot more successful, sometimes so good Djokovic declined to also give pursuit-- and remarkable sprinting, gliding, flexing defense at each ends. They provided so effectively that not either obtained broken even as soon as: Djokovic saved eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, possibly, was actually exactly how safely both males participated in, regardless of the talent of the hostility and tension of the occasion.The only pity, maybe, for the fans-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Produce indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the show, repeatedly bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a resurgence, his followers began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois from time to time reminded people to remain quiet during the action.Yet the area additionally became as peaceful as a theater in between factors, enough to make sure that play was delayed quickly when the air close expectancy was actually punctured through a little one's crying.Both men participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one drop try and down payment it over the net for a victor, he indulged in the rowdy response by pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swung both arms expenses to encourage individuals that already were actually standing up and also screaming.The very first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, full of impressive shots and also impressive video games. One activity lasted 18 points spread over much more than a lots mesmerizing minutes, consisting of 5 break possibilities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in , as he therefore usually is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system serve, yet Djokovic moved merely enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit victor. After 2 blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery champion as well as relied on encounter his family members with a clenched fist had high.Another set, and also another tiebreaker, eventually, and also Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as carried it to his lips for an embrace.