.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other titles, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, really desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last notable achievement missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually acquired one at age 37, and it doesn't matter a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and uniformly matched guys's tennis single people last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my physical body, my household-- my everything-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Astonishing fight. Extraordinary battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive job already featured a men's- record 24 Conquest prizes as well as the best weeks devoted atop in the positions by any type of man or even lady. It likewise presently consisted of a Summer months Olympics award, coming from 2008, however it was a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Games. He shed to the ultimate gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I was like, 'OK, let's survive this one.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I did not believe as nervous as I would commonly believe, because I had gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the correct knee that needed surgical operation for a torn lens pair of months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and eliminated his longtime opponent in organized sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the singles gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one final forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his group in the stands-- being in front of his better half as well as their pair of kids-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he burst into tears and also covered his face, after that advanced and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the difficult moments, he provided it an added press," Alcaraz said through his very own splits. "It harms to shed such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments despite being actually decided in merely pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2015's last at the All England Nightclub, however Djokovic gained 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 during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing matchup, featuring one of the greatest to ever do it in Djokovic, and also the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possibly possess been actually discouraging for Djokovic to locate themself once again around the internet from a younger, speedier model of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic often found and gesticulated and also sputtered towards his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was actually the only instant I actually believed I can win the suit," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions filled with exceptional ball-striking, quick decrease shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to be much more productive, at times so excellent Djokovic dropped to also provide hunt-- and remarkable sprinting, moving, flexing self defense at each ends. They offered thus effectively that neither obtained recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic spared 8 rest points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, probably, was how safely both men played, in spite of the ability of the hostility and tension of the occasion.The merely embarassment, possibly, for the supporters-- and also normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set layout, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Create no mistake, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands became part of the show, continuously breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, developing an operatic fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a return, his advocates started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois periodically reminded people to remain soundless in the course of the action.Yet the area additionally came to be as quiet as a cinema between factors, good enough to ensure play was delayed for a while when the sky close anticipation was punctured through a kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one drop chance as well as down payment it over the internet for a victor, he basked in the rowdy response by aiming his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms cost to urge individuals who already were actually standing as well as screaming.The 1st set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, packed with epic tries as well as epic activities. One activity lasted 18 points topped much more than a loads magical minutes, consisting of 5 break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic managed to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus often is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body offer, however Djokovic slid only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield victor. After pair of mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley victor as well as counted on encounter his family members along with a fist had high.Another collection, as well as an additional sudden death, later on, and also Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a kiss.