.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions as well as other labels, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final notable accomplishment overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally obtained one at age 37, as well as it does not matter a bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as equally matched males's tennis single people ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my family-- my every thing-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Unbelievable battle. Fabulous battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable profession actually included a males's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and the most full weeks invested atop in the positions through any sort of man or lady. It likewise currently included a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because round at the Games. He lost to the possible gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I felt like, 'OK, let's get through this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the match, I did certainly not feel as anxious as I would typically experience, given that I had secured a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the ideal knee that called for surgical treatment for a torn crescent pair of months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle as well as removed his longtime opponent in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest man to gain the songs gold in his sport because 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, due to one final forehand champion, Djokovic switched towards his group in the stands-- sitting in front of his partner and also their 2 children-- dropped his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever before, he burst into tears and also covered his face, after that advanced and also nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the tough moments, he gave it an extra push," Alcaraz said via his very own splits. "It injures to drop such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins even with being actually determined in only two collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All of England Nightclub, but Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling match, featuring among the very best to ever perform it in Djokovic, and also the best presently in Alcaraz. Indeed, it can possess been disheartening for Djokovic to discover themself once again all over the net from a younger, faster variation of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic often searched for and gesticulated and also sputtered towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was the only minute I really believed I may win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps filled with wonderful ball-striking, ingenious reduce chances-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be a lot more effective, often thus good Djokovic declined to also give pursuit-- and enormous sprinting, moving, flexing protection at both ends. They served so properly that not either obtained recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic conserved eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was exactly how cleanly both males played, in spite of the ability of the opposition as well as pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, perhaps, for the followers-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Help make no mistake, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands became part of the series, repetitively bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz attempted to install a rebound, his supporters began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois from time to time told folks to continue to be noiseless throughout the action.Yet the location additionally became as silent as a theater between factors, enough so that play was delayed quickly when the sky thick with anticipation was actually pierced through a young child's crying.Both men participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one decline chance and also down payment it over the internet for a champion, he indulged in the rowdy reaction through directing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he waved both arms expenses to encourage individuals who currently were standing up and screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, packed with legendary chances as well as legendary games. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a lots magical moments, including 5 break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he thus often is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, but Djokovic slid simply enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain victor. After two mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery champion and also counted on experience his household with a first held high.Another set, and another sudden death, later on, and also Djokovic had that medal that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as delivered it to his lips for a kiss.