.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest championships and other labels, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, really yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final significant accomplishment missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually got one at grow older 37, and no matter a little bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as uniformly matched men's tennis songs final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body system, my household-- my every thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Extraordinary battle. Amazing battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding career actually featured a males's- document 24 Grand Slam prizes and the absolute most full weeks spent atop in the rankings by any guy or lady. It additionally currently had a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and 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 in that cycle at the Games. He lost to the eventual gold champion 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 dealing with Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's get through this one.' That is actually why today, prior to the match, I carried out not experience as nervous as I will usually think, given that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the appropriate leg that demanded surgical operation for a torn meniscus pair of months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as removed his long time opponent in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the single people gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one last forehand winner, Djokovic switched towards his team in the stands-- sitting in front of his better half and their 2 youngsters-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he shed tears as well as covered his face, then advanced and got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the hard moments, he provided it an added press," Alcaraz said via his very own tears. "It hurts to shed such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments regardless of being decided in merely 2 collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All of England Club, however Djokovic gained when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the site used for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing competition, featuring one of the most ideal to ever perform it in Djokovic, as well as the most effective right now in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly possess been irritating for Djokovic to discover themself once more throughout the web coming from a younger, faster model of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic frequently searched for as well as gestured as well as whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Truthfully, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was the only minute I in fact assumed I may gain the match," Djokovic said.It needed long exchanges full of outstanding ball-striking, quick decrease gos-- Alcaraz's often tended to be much more prosperous, sometimes thus excellent Djokovic dropped to even offer hunt-- and also remarkable sprinting, sliding, extending protection at each ends. They provided therefore well that not either obtained equalized when: Djokovic conserved eight breather points, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, perhaps, was actually exactly how safely both guys played, even with the skill of the opposition and pressure of the occasion.The just embarassment, probably, for the supporters-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Help 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 stands became part of the series, repetitively bursting out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, making an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to place a comeback, his advocates started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes reminded folks to continue to be noiseless during the action.Yet the spot also came to be as peaceful as a theatre in between points, good enough in order that play was actually delayed for a while when the sky close anticipation was punctured through a little one's crying.Both guys participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to get to one reduce go as well as down payment it over the net for a champion, he basked in the raucous response by directing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand winner on the run to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both arms overhead to motivate people that already were standing up and also screaming.The first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with legendary gos as well as legendary activities. One game lasted 18 aspects topped much more than a number of magical minutes, featuring five break odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic handled to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he thus often is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body serve, yet Djokovic slid just enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After 2 oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery winner as well as turned to face his loved ones with a first had high.Another set, and yet another sudden death, eventually, and also Djokovic had that medal that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a caress.