.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam champions and other titles, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, really wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final substantial achievement missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly received one at age 37, and it does not matter a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as uniformly matched males's tennis singles last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my center, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Incredible battle. Unbelievable fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive occupation currently featured a men's- file 24 Grand Slam trophies as well as one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any type of man or female. It also already included a Summer season Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was a bronze-- as well as he created it crystal clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that cycle at the Games. He dropped to the resulting gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's get through this set.' That's why today, before the suit, I carried out not feel as tense as I would normally think, because I had actually secured an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the best leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn lens 2 months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle and also removed his long time opponent in organized sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest man to win the single people gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after hammering 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 champion, Djokovic switched towards his staff in the stands-- sitting in front of his wife and also their two kids-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever, he sobbed as well as covered his face, at that point advanced as well as took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic waved the banner." In the difficult moments, he gave it an extra push," Alcaraz mentioned via his own splits. "It injures to lose like this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins regardless of being chosen in simply two collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All England Club, however Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the web site used for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating matchup, including some of the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the very best right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it might possess been discouraging for Djokovic to find themself once more all over the web coming from a more youthful, speedier model of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently searched for as well as gesticulated and whispered toward his guest box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was the only second I actually presumed I can easily win the match," Djokovic said.It called for long exchanges full of outstanding ball-striking, skilled decline tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be even more effective, at times thus great Djokovic declined to even provide hunt-- and significant sprinting, gliding, extending self defense at both ends. They served so effectively that neither received equalized when: Djokovic conserved eight break points, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, possibly, was actually exactly how easily both men played, even with the skill of the resistance and pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, possibly, for the fans-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Produce indisputable, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved 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 frequently overlapped, making a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a resurgence, his fans began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally advised individuals to stay silent during the action.Yet the area likewise came to be as silent as a movie theater in between aspects, sufficient to make sure that play was actually postponed temporarily when the sky thick with anticipation was pierced by a young child's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one reduce try as well as down payment it over the web for a victor, he indulged the rowdy response through directing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swung both upper arms cost to urge individuals who already were standing and also screaming.The 1st set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, packed with legendary shots and also epic games. One activity lasted 18 factors topped greater than a dozen thrilling moments, consisting of five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus frequently is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body serve, yet Djokovic glided just sufficient to his left to punch a cross-court forehand return winner. After pair of blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and also relied on encounter his family members with a first conducted high.Another collection, and also yet another sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic possessed that award that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also took it to his lips for an embrace.