.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam championships and also other headlines, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, definitely wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final substantial success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually got one at age 37, as well as never mind a little how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and uniformly matched guys's tennis songs last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my body system, my loved ones-- my everything-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Incredible war. Amazing fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional profession actually featured a males's- file 24 Grand Slam trophies as well as the absolute most weeks spent atop in the ranks through any kind of male or lady. It additionally presently included a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the possible gold champion 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 felt like, 'OK, permit's make it through this.' That's why today, before the suit, I carried out not experience as concerned as I would normally experience, given that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the right leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn meniscus two months back, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second cycle and removed his longtime opponent in organized collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one final forehand winner, Djokovic transformed toward his team in the stands-- partaking front of his other half and also their pair of little ones-- fell his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever, he wailed as well as covered his face, after that advanced as well as snatched a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the hard moments, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz claimed with his very own tears. "It hurts to lose like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins in spite of being decided in only two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the site used for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating match, including some of the most effective to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the most ideal at the moment in Alcaraz. Indeed, it could have been frustrating for Djokovic to find himself once more all over the net from a more youthful, faster version of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic often sought out as well as gesticulated and also whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Honestly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was the only moment I really presumed I can easily gain the suit," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions loaded with fantastic ball-striking, nimble drop shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become a lot more effective, sometimes thus great Djokovic dropped to also provide pursuit-- as well as tremendous sprinting, moving, extending defense at each ends. They provided so well that not either acquired recovered cost when: Djokovic spared 8 rest points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, maybe, was actually exactly how cleanly both men played, even with the ability of the hostility and tension of the occasion.The merely shame, probably, for the supporters-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Produce no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the positions became part of the show, repetitively breaking out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to position a return, his advocates began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind folks to remain noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the area additionally became as peaceful as a theater in between factors, enough so that play was delayed quickly when the sky thick with apprehension was punctured by a kid's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz raced to reach one decline try and also deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged the rowdy reaction by pointing his best index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the run to top a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he waved both upper arms cost to motivate individuals that actually were actually standing and also screaming.The first collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with epic chances and impressive video games. One game lasted 18 points topped more than a number of enchanting moments, featuring 5 break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic handled to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he so usually is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system serve, yet Djokovic glided only good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain champion. After two errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a volley winner and counted on encounter his family members along with a first conducted high.Another set, and another sudden death, later, and also Djokovic possessed that award that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also delivered it to his lips for an embrace.