.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest champions and also various other labels, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, actually wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last significant success missing out on from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly received one at age 37, and also it does not matter a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and uniformly matched guys's tennis singles last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my physical body, my household-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Astonishing war. Awesome match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding career already included a guys's- record 24 Conquest prizes and the most weeks spent atop in the rankings by any man or girl. It also actually consisted of a Summer Olympics award, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and he produced it crystal clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because round at the Games. He dropped to the ultimate gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic said, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's make it through this set.' That's why today, prior to the complement, I carried out certainly not believe as worried as I will normally experience, given that I had safeguarded an award." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the appropriate leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn lens pair of months ago, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second round and eliminated his longtime competitor in straight sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the singles gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first occupation gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, with the help of one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed toward his staff in the stands-- partaking front of his spouse as well as their two kids-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he shed tears and covered his face, then increased and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the hard instants, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz claimed with his personal tears. "It harms to shed like this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments despite being chosen in just two sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in last year's ultimate 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 held at Roland Garros, the web site used for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating competition, featuring one of the best to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest presently in Alcaraz. Indeed, it might have been discouraging for Djokovic to find themself once more across the web from a much younger, faster variation of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly looked up and gestured and muttered toward his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only instant I really presumed I can succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions filled with exceptional ball-striking, skilled decline gos-- Alcaraz's tended to become much more prosperous, in some cases so good Djokovic decreased to even provide hunt-- and also significant sprinting, gliding, stretching self defense at each ends. They offered thus well that not either acquired recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic conserved eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, maybe, was just how safely each males participated in, regardless of the ability of the hostility and stress of the occasion.The just shame, maybe, for the fans-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest events. Make no mistake, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the program, continuously bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, generating a theatrical fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to install a revival, his supporters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois from time to time reminded individuals to stay quiet throughout the action.Yet the area additionally ended up being as silent as a cinema between factors, sufficient to make sure that play was actually delayed temporarily when the sky thick with expectancy was actually pierced by a kid's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one drop try and also down payment it over the net for a champion, he basked in the rowdy reaction by pointing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cap a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both arms cost to promote individuals who actually were standing up and screaming.The very first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, filled with legendary gos as well as impressive activities. One game lasted 18 points topped more than a loads exciting mins, featuring 5 break opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic managed to carry for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in , as he thus usually is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system provide, but Djokovic slid simply sufficient to his left to punch a cross-court forehand gain winner. After 2 oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley winner and also relied on encounter his family with a fist had high.Another collection, and also an additional tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for a caress.