.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest championships and various other labels, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, truly yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final substantial achievement overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately acquired one at grow older 37, as well as never mind a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as evenly matched males's ping pong single people final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my family-- my everything-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Astonishing battle. Extraordinary fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional job already included a men's- document 24 Conquest trophies and also the most weeks invested atop in the rankings by any type of male or even girl. It also presently contained a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- and also he produced it clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He shed to the possible gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, let's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, before the suit, I did not experience as nervous as I would typically experience, since I had gotten a medal." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the ideal knee that needed surgery for a torn meniscus two months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd cycle and also eliminated his longtime opponent in straight sets. Now Djokovic is actually the earliest man to win the songs gold in his sport considering that 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial career gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned toward his group in the positions-- partaking front of his better half and their two youngsters-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he wailed and also covered his face, then rose and also grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the tough seconds, he offered it an added press," Alcaraz mentioned with his personal tears. "It injures to drop similar to this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins in spite of being actually determined in merely two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All of England Club, but Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the site used for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating matchup, featuring among the most effective to ever do it in Djokovic, as well as the very best currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it might possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to discover themself once again all over the web coming from a younger, speedier variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently sought out and gesticulated as well as muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was the only moment I actually believed I can easily win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of excellent ball-striking, ingenious decline chances-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be even more prosperous, often thus good Djokovic declined to also give chase-- and also significant sprinting, sliding, stretching self defense at both ends. They offered therefore effectively that neither obtained broken even when: Djokovic conserved 8 rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, possibly, was exactly how precisely each men played, even with the talent of the hostility as well as pressure of the occasion.The merely embarassment, possibly, for the fans-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Help make indisputable, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the program, repeatedly bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, generating a sonant fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to mount a return, his supporters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally advised individuals to stay soundless in the course of the action.Yet the location likewise came to be as quiet as a movie theater between aspects, sufficient to ensure that play was actually delayed briefly when the sky close apprehension was actually punctured by a kid's crying.Both men participated in to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to reach one reduce go and also deposit it over the web for a winner, he basked in the raucous response through pointing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms expenses to motivate folks who currently were standing up and screaming.The very first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, packed with epic shots as well as legendary activities. One game lasted 18 aspects topped much more than a dozen thrilling mins, featuring 5 rest opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic handled to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he thus frequently is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, however Djokovic slid merely good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain winner. After pair of blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery winner and turned to encounter his family members along with a clenched fist hosted high.Another collection, as well as an additional sudden death, eventually, as well as Djokovic possessed that award that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for an embrace.