.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, definitely desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable success missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly acquired one at grow older 37, as well as it does not matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as equally matched males's tennis singles ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body system, my household-- my whatever-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Unbelievable war. Unbelievable battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable profession currently featured a males's- document 24 Conquest trophies and also one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the positions through any sort of guy or even girl. It additionally presently had a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- as well as he made it crystal clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because round at the Games. He shed to the eventual gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's survive this set.' That's why today, prior to the fit, I did not feel as anxious as I will generally believe, due to the fact that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the right knee that required surgical treatment for a torn crescent two months back, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd round as well as removed his long time rival in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the singles gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, with the help of one final forehand victor, Djokovic transformed toward his crew in the stands-- sitting in front of his better half and their pair of kids-- lost his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he cried and covered his face, then progressed and got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the challenging seconds, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz said via his own splits. "It injures to drop similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes despite being actually chosen in only two collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's ultimate at the All England Club, yet Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the internet site used for tennis during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating matchup, including some of the most ideal to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to locate himself once again all over the internet coming from a younger, faster model of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly searched for and gestured and also murmured towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was actually the only minute I really presumed I can succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions filled with exceptional ball-striking, quick reduce tries-- Alcaraz's tended to become even more successful, occasionally so great Djokovic declined to even give hunt-- as well as enormous sprinting, sliding, flexing defense at each ends. They served thus effectively that not either received broken even once: Djokovic conserved 8 break factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, possibly, was exactly how precisely each men participated in, despite the talent of the opposition and also tension of the occasion.The just embarassment, perhaps, for the fans-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest events. Make indisputable, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the series, continuously breaking out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, developing an operatic fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a comeback, his promoters started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically reminded people to remain noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the area also ended up being as peaceful as a theatre in between factors, enough to make sure that play was put off for a while when the air thick with apprehension was pierced through a kid's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decline try and also down payment it over the web for a victor, he basked in the raucous response through aiming his appropriate index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swung both arms cost to encourage folks who presently were standing up as well as screaming.The very first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with impressive chances and epic video games. One activity lasted 18 factors topped greater than a lots mesmerizing mins, featuring 5 rest possibilities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he therefore often is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body serve, but Djokovic slid just sufficient to his left to punch a cross-court forehand yield victor. After 2 errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley winner and also relied on experience his family along with a first had high.Another set, and also one more tiebreaker, later, as well as Djokovic possessed that award that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and carried it to his lips for a kiss.