.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam championships and other titles, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, definitely wished an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable achievement missing out on coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally obtained one at age 37, and also it does not matter a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also uniformly matched guys's tennis songs ultimate at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my physical body, my household-- my everything-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Unbelievable struggle. Fabulous match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable career actually featured a guys's- report 24 Conquest trophies and the most full weeks spent atop in the rankings through any kind of male or even girl. It additionally already had a Summer months Olympics medal, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- and he produced it crystal 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 cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the resulting gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's make it through this one.' That's why today, just before the suit, I did not experience as concerned as I would usually believe, since I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the right leg that called for surgical treatment for a torn crescent 2 months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second cycle and also removed his longtime competitor in straight sets. Now Djokovic is the oldest man to gain the singles gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one final forehand victor, Djokovic switched towards his team in the positions-- being in front of his other half and also their two little ones-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he shed tears as well as covered his face, then increased and snatched a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the hard minutes, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz stated with his very own tears. "It injures to lose like this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes in spite of being actually chosen in only 2 sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2015's final at the All of England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the website used for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating matchup, including some of the very best to ever do it in Djokovic, and the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it might possess been actually disheartening for Djokovic to find themself once again around the web from a more youthful, faster model of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently sought out and also gesticulated as well as whispered towards his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was actually the only second I actually thought I may win the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of superb ball-striking, skilled decline shots-- Alcaraz's tended to be even more effective, often thus really good Djokovic decreased to also give pursuit-- and significant sprinting, moving, flexing self defense at both ends. They provided so well that not either received equalized once: Djokovic conserved eight rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, maybe, was just how precisely both men played, in spite of the ability of the opposition as well as stress of the occasion.The simply pity, maybe, for the enthusiasts-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Make no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the series, repeatedly breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, developing an operatic fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz tried to install a rebound, his advocates began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded folks to remain noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the area likewise became as quiet as a movie theater between aspects, enough to ensure play was actually postponed temporarily when the air thick with anticipation was actually punctured through a child's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decline go and also down payment it over the internet for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction by directing his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swayed both upper arms overhead to urge folks who currently were standing as well as screaming.The first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, full of epic shots and also epic video games. One game lasted 18 points spread over much more than a loads exciting moments, consisting of 5 break odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in , as he so often is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body offer, but Djokovic slid simply sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand yield winner. After pair of blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley victor as well as turned to experience his family with a clenched fist conducted high.Another collection, and one more tiebreaker, later, and Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as delivered it to his lips for a caress.