.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam champions and also other labels, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, definitely preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last notable accomplishment skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately acquired one at grow older 37, and it does not matter a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and uniformly matched guys's tennis songs last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body, my family members-- my whatever-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Fabulous fight. Fabulous fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent occupation currently included a guys's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and also one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks through any sort of guy or woman. It also already had a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he produced it very clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Video games. He dropped to the possible gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this.' That's why today, just before the fit, I performed not believe as nervous as I will normally believe, given that I had protected a medal." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the ideal leg that required surgical operation for a torn curve 2 months ago, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second round as well as eliminated his longtime rival in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the singles gold in his sport since 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first career gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, due to one final forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the stands-- being in front of his better half as well as their pair of little ones-- dropped his racket and also knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he burst into tears as well as covered his face, after that progressed as well as ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the difficult instants, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz stated by means of his personal rips. "It harms to drop like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins in spite of being actually determined in just pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, yet Djokovic won when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for tennis during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating match, including some of the greatest to ever do it in Djokovic, and the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possess been irritating for Djokovic to locate themself once again across the net coming from a more youthful, faster version of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly found and also gestured and also whispered towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was actually the only instant I actually believed I can easily succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of fantastic ball-striking, skilled drop tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be a lot more productive, sometimes thus great Djokovic declined to even offer chase-- and significant sprinting, moving, flexing defense at each ends. They provided thus effectively that neither got recovered cost the moment: Djokovic spared eight rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, probably, was actually exactly how precisely both men participated in, in spite of the skill of the resistance and also stress of the occasion.The only shame, probably, for the fans-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest events. Make no mistake, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the series, repeatedly bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, developing a sonant fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to position a rebound, his followers began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded people to remain noiseless throughout the action.Yet the place additionally came to be as peaceful as a theatre in between points, good enough so that play was actually postponed briefly when the air close apprehension was pierced through a little one's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one drop chance as well as deposit it over the web for a winner, he indulged in the rowdy reaction through pointing his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand champion on the run to top a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swung both upper arms overhead to encourage folks that actually were standing up as well as screaming.The very first collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic gos and impressive video games. One activity lasted 18 factors spread over greater than a dozen magical minutes, consisting of five rest chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he so commonly is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, but Djokovic glided only good enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand yield winner. After two blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley victor and also relied on experience his family members with a fist hosted high.Another set, and also an additional sudden death, later, and Djokovic possessed that award that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.