.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest champions and also other titles, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, actually yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final significant achievement overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally received one at grow older 37, as well as it does not matter a little how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as equally matched guys's tennis singles last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my body, my household-- my whatever-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Incredible struggle. Astonishing fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding profession already included a males's- record 24 Conquest trophies and also the most full weeks spent atop in the rankings through any guy or even female. It additionally presently included a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it very clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that round at the Games. He lost to the eventual gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I felt like, 'OK, let's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I did not believe as stressed as I will usually experience, given that I had actually protected an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the best knee that needed surgical operation for a torn meniscus 2 months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second round and also eliminated his long time rival in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is the earliest male to gain the singles gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, due to one last forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his team in the positions-- partaking front of his partner and their 2 children-- fell his racket as well as knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he sobbed and covered his face, then increased and also ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the difficult moments, he provided it an extra press," Alcaraz pointed out through his own tears. "It hurts to lose enjoy this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes regardless of being actually decided in merely two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in last year's last at the All England Club, but Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling competition, featuring among the most ideal to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it might have been actually frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once more across the net from a more youthful, speedier model of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly found as well as gestured as well as muttered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was actually the only instant I really presumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long swaps full of terrific ball-striking, quick decline shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to be much more productive, in some cases therefore great Djokovic decreased to even provide hunt-- as well as significant sprinting, gliding, flexing self defense at both ends. They served so effectively that not either got recovered cost when: Djokovic saved 8 break points, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, possibly, was actually exactly how precisely both men played, despite the skill of the hostility and stress of the occasion.The just pity, maybe, for the fans-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Help make indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the stands entered into the program, continuously bursting out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to place a return, his advocates started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind individuals to stay noiseless throughout the action.Yet the area also came to be as peaceful as a cinema between factors, good enough to ensure play was delayed temporarily when the air close expectancy was actually pierced by a young child's crying.Both guys participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to get to one reduce go as well as deposit it over the web for a champion, he indulged in the rowdy reaction through pointing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the go to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he waved both upper arms expenses to encourage individuals who currently were standing up and screaming.The first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, full of legendary chances and also legendary games. One game lasted 18 points spread over more than a dozen enchanting minutes, featuring five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to carry for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he so typically is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body provide, however Djokovic glided only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After two oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley victor as well as counted on encounter his family along with a clenched fist conducted high.Another set, as well as another sudden death, later, and Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also delivered it to his lips for an embrace.