.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships as well as other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, truly desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last notable success missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually obtained one at age 37, and also it doesn't matter a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also equally matched guys's tennis songs ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my body, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Fabulous battle. Fabulous fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable job actually included a guys's- report 24 Conquest prizes and also the most full weeks spent atop in the positions by any man or lady. It also presently consisted of a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and he produced it crystal clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle 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 also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, let's survive this.' That's why today, prior to the fit, I did certainly not feel as stressed as I would usually experience, because I had actually safeguarded an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the right knee that demanded surgery for a torn meniscus pair of months ago, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle as well as eliminated his long time rival in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the oldest man to gain the singles gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the stands-- partaking front of his wife and also their two children-- fell his racket as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he wailed and covered his face, at that point increased and also got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the tough seconds, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz pointed out via his very own rips. "It hurts to shed enjoy this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins in spite of being chosen in merely pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise beat Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All England Club, but Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing match, including among the most ideal to ever do it in Djokovic, and also the greatest presently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could have been frustrating for Djokovic to find themself once again across the internet from a younger, speedier variation of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic frequently found and gestured and murmured toward his guest box.Still, he came out on top." Honestly, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only moment I actually thought I can succeed the match," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions filled with excellent ball-striking, nimble drop shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be a lot more successful, sometimes so excellent Djokovic decreased to even offer hunt-- and also tremendous sprinting, sliding, flexing self defense at each ends. They provided so well that neither got equalized as soon as: Djokovic spared eight breather points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, maybe, was exactly how cleanly each guys participated in, in spite of the ability of the resistance and pressure of the occasion.The merely embarassment, perhaps, for the followers-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Help make indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the series, repeatedly breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, generating an operatic fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a return, his supporters began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to continue to be noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the location likewise ended up being as silent as a movie theater in between factors, sufficient in order that play was postponed briefly when the air thick with anticipation was pierced by a little one's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to get to one decline go and down payment it over the internet for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction by pointing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand winner on the go to top a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both arms cost to encourage people who currently were standing up as well as screaming.The initial collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic shots and also legendary games. One game lasted 18 aspects topped greater than a loads thrilling mins, including 5 rest possibilities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in , as he therefore usually is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system provide, yet Djokovic moved simply good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery winner and also looked to experience his family along with a hand hosted high.Another set, as well as another sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as delivered it to his lips for a caress.