.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions and also various other headlines, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, definitely yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable accomplishment missing out on from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly received one at grow older 37, as well as no matter a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also equally matched males's ping pong single people final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my physical body, my loved ones-- my everything-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Incredible battle. Amazing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional career already included a men's- document 24 Conquest prizes and also one of the most full weeks invested atop in the rankings through any type of guy or woman. It likewise currently consisted of a Summer months Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and also he made it clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Games. He shed to the ultimate gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I felt like, 'OK, let's make it through this.' That is actually why today, just before the fit, I did certainly not believe as concerned as I will normally feel, because I had secured a medal." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the best knee that called for surgical operation for a torn meniscus two months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round and removed his long time opponent in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sport given that 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first career gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed toward his group in the stands-- partaking front of his better half and also their two kids-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he wailed and also covered his face, then advanced as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic waved the banner." In the tough moments, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz mentioned via his very own tears. "It harms to drop enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty minutes regardless of being actually made a decision in simply two collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, however Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating competition, featuring among the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the very best presently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possess been frustrating for Djokovic to discover themself once again throughout the web from a more youthful, faster variation of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic frequently searched for as well as gestured and also whispered towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was the only moment I actually presumed I can easily gain the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps full of wonderful ball-striking, deft reduce gos-- Alcaraz's often tended to become even more productive, often thus great Djokovic decreased to also provide hunt-- and also significant sprinting, moving, flexing self defense at each ends. They served therefore well that not either obtained broken even once: Djokovic saved 8 rest aspects, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, possibly, was how precisely each guys participated in, despite the ability of the resistance as well as pressure of the occasion.The simply embarassment, possibly, for the fans-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create indisputable, this conflict 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, consistently bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, generating an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to position a rebound, his advocates started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois from time to time told individuals to remain quiet during the action.Yet the spot likewise ended up being as peaceful as a movie theater between aspects, sufficient so that play was actually delayed for a while when the air thick with expectancy was punctured by a child's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to get to one reduce go and also down payment it over the net for a winner, he indulged the raucous reaction by aiming his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both upper arms overhead to promote individuals who actually were standing up and screaming.The very first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, filled with epic tries and also epic activities. One activity lasted 18 factors spread over greater than a dozen exciting minutes, featuring 5 rest odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic managed to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he therefore typically is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system offer, yet Djokovic slid just sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After two blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery champion and counted on encounter his family with a first had high.Another collection, and also another tiebreaker, eventually, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also carried it to his lips for a kiss.