.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships and other headlines, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, really wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at age 37, and it matters not a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and evenly matched guys's tennis single people last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body system, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Incredible battle. Extraordinary battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional occupation actually featured a males's- record 24 Conquest trophies and also the absolute most weeks spent atop in the rankings through any male or girl. It also already had a Summer Olympics medal, coming from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that round at the Gamings. He dropped to the possible gold winner 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 experiencing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, permit's make it through this set.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I did certainly not experience as anxious as I would typically feel, given that I had gotten a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the right knee that needed surgical procedure for a torn crescent two months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round as well as removed his long time opponent in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is the earliest male to gain the singles gold in his sport since 1908-- and also he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one last forehand victor, Djokovic switched toward his team in the positions-- being in front of his spouse and their 2 children-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he wailed and also covered his face, after that increased as well as got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the flag." In the difficult seconds, he gave it an additional push," Alcaraz claimed through his personal rips. "It harms to shed like this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins in spite of being actually decided in merely pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2015's last at the All England Nightclub, however Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was a fascinating competition, including among the most effective to ever do it in Djokovic, and the most ideal currently in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it can possess been frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once again all over the net from a much younger, faster variation of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic often searched for and gestured and sputtered towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was actually the only instant I in fact presumed I may succeed the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long substitutions loaded with wonderful ball-striking, nimble decrease tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become more successful, at times so great Djokovic decreased to even provide chase-- and tremendous sprinting, moving, flexing self defense at both ends. They served thus properly that not either got broken even the moment: Djokovic conserved eight rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, maybe, was exactly how cleanly both males participated in, even with the talent of the resistance and also stress of the occasion.The merely pity, perhaps, for the fans-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create no mistake, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the stands became part of the show, continuously bursting out right 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 position a rebound, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Seat moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to stay soundless during the course of the action.Yet the location likewise came to be as silent as a movie theater in between factors, sufficient to ensure play was delayed for a while when the air close anticipation was punctured by a child's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz raced to hit one decrease chance as well as deposit it over the net for a winner, he basked in the raucous response by pointing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cap a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swayed both upper arms cost to urge people that currently were standing up and also screaming.The 1st set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with impressive gos and epic video games. One activity lasted 18 factors topped greater than a dozen mesmerizing minutes, consisting of five break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he so usually is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body provide, but Djokovic slid merely good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand yield victor. After two blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and looked to encounter his family with a clenched fist had high.Another set, as well as another sudden death, later, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he wished, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also delivered it to his lips for a caress.