.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions as well as various other headlines, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, actually wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final substantial success missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally obtained one at grow older 37, and it matters not a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and evenly matched guys's ping pong singles ultimate at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my center, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my whatever-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Astonishing struggle. Extraordinary fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional job already featured a guys's- record 24 Conquest prizes and the absolute most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any sort of guy or even girl. It likewise currently had a Summer months Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that round at the Games. He lost to the ultimate gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's survive this.' That's why today, prior to the complement, I performed not experience as worried as I will ordinarily experience, because I had secured a medal." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the best leg that required surgical treatment for a torn meniscus 2 months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second round as well as removed his long time opponent in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to win the singles gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one final forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his staff in the stands-- being in front of his spouse and also their pair of youngsters-- dropped his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he wept and also covered his face, after that increased and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic waved the banner." In the tough minutes, he gave it an added press," Alcaraz claimed with his personal tears. "It injures to drop such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments in spite of being determined in just pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2015's final at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the website utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating competition, featuring some of the most effective to ever perform it in Djokovic, and also the best right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly possess been actually frustrating for Djokovic to discover themself once again across the web coming from a more youthful, faster variation of themself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic often looked up and also gestured and sputtered towards his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was actually the only minute I in fact assumed I may win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps filled with exceptional ball-striking, quick reduce tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to be extra prosperous, in some cases thus really good Djokovic dropped to also provide pursuit-- as well as remarkable sprinting, gliding, flexing self defense at each ends. They offered so properly that not either got recovered cost when: Djokovic saved eight rest aspects, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, probably, was how precisely both males played, regardless of the ability of the opposition and pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, perhaps, for the followers-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Produce no mistake, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the show, repetitively bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, generating a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to install a comeback, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally advised people to continue to be noiseless during the action.Yet the spot likewise became as silent as a theater between points, enough to ensure play was delayed quickly when the air thick with anticipation was pierced by a young child's crying.Both men participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to reach one decrease go as well as deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged the rowdy response by aiming his right index finger 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 swung both upper arms cost to urge folks that already were standing as well as screaming.The very first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of impressive shots and also impressive video games. One game lasted 18 aspects spread over much more than a number of magical minutes, consisting of five rest chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic managed to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in , as he therefore typically is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system serve, however Djokovic slid only enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit victor. After pair of blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner and turned to encounter his family members with a fist hosted high.Another collection, as well as one more sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.