.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other titles, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, actually wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final considerable achievement skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at grow older 37, and it doesn't matter a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as evenly matched males's tennis single people final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body system, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Awesome battle. Unbelievable fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional job currently included a men's- file 24 Conquest trophies as well as the absolute most weeks devoted atop in the positions through any sort of man or even lady. It also actually had a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and he produced it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that cycle at the Games. He lost to the ultimate gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I was like, 'OK, permit's make it through this.' That is actually why today, just before the match, I did not feel as worried as I will typically think, due to the fact that I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the best leg that required surgical procedure for a torn lens 2 months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second round and removed his long time competitor in straight sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the single people gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, due to one final forehand victor, Djokovic switched towards his crew in the positions-- being in front of his other half as well as their pair of children-- dropped his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he wept and covered his face, then advanced and also nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the tough moments, he gave it an extra push," Alcaraz stated through his own splits. "It harms to drop such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments regardless of being actually chosen in simply pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to comply with up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event held at Roland Garros, the web site made use of for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating matchup, including some of the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the greatest presently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it can possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to find themself once again around the internet from a younger, faster variation of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic frequently sought out and also gesticulated and whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was the only instant I actually presumed I can win the match," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions full of outstanding ball-striking, deft reduce shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to be even more successful, occasionally so good Djokovic declined to also offer pursuit-- as well as enormous sprinting, gliding, extending self defense at both ends. They served thus effectively that neither acquired equalized once: Djokovic conserved eight breather points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, possibly, was exactly how safely each guys played, in spite of the skill of the hostility and pressure of the occasion.The merely pity, perhaps, for the supporters-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest events. Create no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the program, consistently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, making an operatic fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz tried to position a return, his promoters began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally helped remind folks to remain silent throughout the action.Yet the spot additionally came to be as quiet as a movie theater in between aspects, enough to ensure that play was put off temporarily when the sky close expectancy was punctured by a young child's crying.Both males participated in to the group. When Alcaraz raced to get to one decrease chance and also deposit it over the web for a champion, he indulged in the rowdy reaction through directing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swung both arms cost to urge folks that presently were actually standing up and also screaming.The first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, filled with impressive gos as well as epic video games. One video game lasted 18 points spread over more than a dozen mesmerizing mins, featuring five break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore commonly is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body offer, however Djokovic glided only good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain victor. After pair of oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and also relied on experience his family along with a fist conducted high.Another collection, and an additional tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic had that medal that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and delivered it to his lips for a kiss.