.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions and various other labels, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, actually yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly acquired one at grow older 37, as well as it matters not a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as evenly matched men's tennis single people last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my loved ones-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Incredible battle. Awesome battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding occupation presently included a men's- file 24 Conquest trophies and also one of the most weeks invested atop in the ranks by any kind of guy or even girl. It additionally already had a Summer months Olympics award, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it crystal clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that round at the Games. He lost to the ultimate gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic said, "I was like, 'OK, let's survive this set.' That's why today, before the complement, I carried out certainly not feel as stressed as I will commonly think, considering that I had actually secured an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the correct leg that demanded surgery for a torn meniscus two months ago, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd round as well as removed his longtime competitor in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the singles gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, thanks to one final forehand champion, Djokovic switched toward his group in the stands-- being in front of his partner and their pair of little ones-- dropped his noise as well as knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever before, he wailed and covered his face, after that advanced as well as grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the tough minutes, he provided it an added push," Alcaraz mentioned with his very own rips. "It harms to drop like this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments regardless of being determined in merely 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the internet site used for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing match, featuring one of the most effective to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the best presently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it can possess been actually frustrating for Djokovic to discover himself once again all over the internet coming from a much younger, speedier version of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic frequently searched for as well as gesticulated and also muttered toward his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Honestly, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only second I in fact presumed I can easily succeed the match," Djokovic said.It required long substitutions loaded with superb ball-striking, nimble reduce tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become extra prosperous, at times therefore excellent Djokovic declined to even offer hunt-- as well as tremendous sprinting, sliding, stretching defense at each ends. They provided so well that neither acquired equalized as soon as: Djokovic saved eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was exactly how cleanly both men participated in, in spite of the ability of the opposition and pressure of the occasion.The merely shame, maybe, for the followers-- and also normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Create no mistake, this conflict in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the program, repetitively bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, creating a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to place a rebound, his advocates started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically helped remind folks to remain quiet during the course of the action.Yet the spot also became as quiet as a theater in between points, enough to ensure play was actually delayed quickly when the sky close expectancy was punctured by a kid's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to hit one decline try and also down payment it over the web for a champion, he indulged the rowdy reaction by pointing his right forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both upper arms cost to encourage individuals that presently were actually standing up and also screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, filled with epic chances and also epic games. One game lasted 18 points spread over more than a dozen mesmerizing mins, consisting of five break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus commonly is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body provide, but Djokovic moved simply good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return champion. After two blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley victor as well as relied on face his family along with a first had high.Another set, as well as yet another sudden death, later on, as well as Djokovic possessed that medal that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also took it to his lips for a kiss.