.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions as well as other headlines, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, actually preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable achievement missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally received one at age 37, and it does not matter a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and evenly matched men's tennis single people final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my center, my spirit, my body, my household-- my whatever-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Unbelievable war. Astonishing battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive job actually included a males's- document 24 Conquest prizes and also the absolute most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any man or female. It also actually contained a Summer months Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- as well as he created it crystal clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He lost to the possible gold champion each opportunity: 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 said, "I was like, 'OK, permit's survive this set.' That's why today, just before the match, I carried out certainly not feel as worried as I would typically believe, due to the fact that I had protected a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the right leg that required surgical operation for a torn curve pair of months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round as well as removed his long time opponent in straight sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sporting activity because 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial career gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his group in the stands-- being in front of his partner and their 2 youngsters-- dropped his racket and also knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he cried as well as covered his face, after that progressed and also nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the hard instants, he offered it an added press," Alcaraz pointed out with his personal splits. "It injures to shed enjoy this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes regardless of being actually determined in simply 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All of England Nightclub, however Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the web site utilized for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing matchup, featuring some of the most ideal to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the most ideal right now in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possibly possess been actually disheartening for Djokovic to discover himself once again around the net coming from a much younger, speedier version of himself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic regularly searched for and also gestured and whispered towards his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was actually the only instant I actually believed I can easily win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of superb ball-striking, quick decrease tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to become extra productive, sometimes therefore excellent Djokovic dropped to even offer pursuit-- and also enormous sprinting, sliding, stretching self defense at each ends. They served thus properly that not either got broken even the moment: Djokovic conserved 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was just how safely both guys played, regardless of the ability of the hostility and also pressure of the occasion.The just pity, perhaps, for the followers-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, 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 deserved a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the program, continuously breaking out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, developing a theatrical fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a return, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois periodically reminded individuals to stay quiet during the action.Yet the area also came to be as quiet as a theatre between factors, good enough to make sure that play was actually postponed quickly when the sky thick with apprehension was actually punctured through a child's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one reduce try as well as down payment it over the web for a winner, he indulged the rowdy response through directing his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms expenses to encourage folks that currently were actually standing up and also screaming.The initial set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic tries as well as impressive games. One video game lasted 18 points spread over much more than a loads magical moments, consisting of five break possibilities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he therefore usually is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body provide, however Djokovic moved simply enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield winner. After pair of blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley winner and relied on encounter his family with a fist conducted high.Another set, and another sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic possessed that award that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for a caress.