.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions as well as various other labels, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, truly desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last notable accomplishment skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at age 37, as well as no matter a little for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also evenly matched males's tennis songs final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my body, my family-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Amazing war. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent occupation currently featured a males's- record 24 Conquest trophies and also the most weeks devoted atop in the ranks through any male or even woman. It also presently consisted of a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and he created it crystal clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Games. He lost to the ultimate gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I was like, 'OK, let's make it through this.' That's why today, before the complement, I carried out certainly not believe as worried as I would generally think, given that I had protected an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the ideal knee that called for surgical procedure for a torn curve two months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round as well as removed his long time opponent in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the singles gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he avoided 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 very first job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, with the help of one final forehand champion, Djokovic turned towards his group in the stands-- being in front of his spouse as well as their 2 children-- fell his racket and also knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he shed tears as well as covered his face, at that point 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 moments, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz said by means of his own splits. "It harms to lose similar to this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins even with being chosen in only 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event held at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an appealing competition, including one of the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the most ideal presently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could have been discouraging for Djokovic to discover himself once more around the internet coming from a more youthful, speedier variation of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic often sought out and also gesticulated and sputtered towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was the only minute I in fact thought I may gain the suit," Djokovic said.It required long exchanges filled with wonderful ball-striking, skilled drop tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be more prosperous, at times so really good Djokovic dropped to even provide hunt-- and incredible sprinting, gliding, flexing self defense at both ends. They served therefore well that neither acquired equalized once: Djokovic saved 8 rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was actually exactly how cleanly both males played, even with the ability of the hostility and also stress of the occasion.The merely shame, perhaps, for the fans-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Help make no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands entered into the program, repetitively bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, producing a theatrical fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to mount a comeback, his advocates began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind people to continue to be noiseless throughout the action.Yet the spot additionally came to be as silent as a movie theater between points, enough so that play was postponed for a while when the air thick with apprehension was actually pierced by a child's crying.Both guys played to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one decline go and deposit it over the net for a champion, he indulged the rowdy response by pointing his appropriate index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both upper arms overhead to urge individuals who actually were standing and screaming.The 1st set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with epic gos as well as impressive games. One activity lasted 18 factors topped more than a dozen magical mins, including five break opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he thus typically is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body offer, however Djokovic glided merely enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand yield victor. After 2 oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and also looked to face his family members along with a clenched fist conducted high.Another collection, and another tiebreaker, eventually, and Djokovic had that medal that he desired, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for an embrace.