.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest champions and various other labels, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, definitely preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable achievement missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally received one at age 37, as well as it matters not a bit for 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 single people ultimate at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my body, my family-- my every thing-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Incredible struggle. Astonishing fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable career currently included a men's- document 24 Conquest prizes and the best full weeks spent atop in the positions through any kind of male or even lady. It likewise presently contained a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it very clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Games. He lost to the ultimate gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I resembled, 'OK, let's make it through this one.' That's why today, before the complement, I did certainly not think as anxious as I would ordinarily feel, since I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the right knee that called for surgical procedure for a torn lens two months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second cycle as well as eliminated his long time competitor in straight sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest male to win the songs gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one final forehand winner, Djokovic transformed towards his crew in the stands-- being in front of his wife and their pair of youngsters-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay. As mental as ever, he sobbed and covered his face, then progressed and also got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the challenging minutes, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz mentioned with his very own tears. "It harms to shed such as this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins despite being actually decided in merely two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All England Club, however Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the site made use of for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing competition, including one of the greatest to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possibly possess been annoying for Djokovic to find himself once again throughout the internet from a more youthful, faster version of himself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic often found and also gestured and sputtered towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was actually the only second I really thought I may gain the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps full of fantastic ball-striking, ingenious decline gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be even more prosperous, in some cases so excellent Djokovic dropped to even provide pursuit-- as well as tremendous sprinting, moving, extending self defense at both ends. They served therefore properly that neither acquired recovered cost once: Djokovic conserved 8 rest points, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, maybe, was actually how precisely each males played, despite the ability of the opposition and also pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, maybe, for the enthusiasts-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Produce no mistake, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands became part of the program, repeatedly breaking out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, generating a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz tried to install a return, his proponents began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois sometimes advised people to stay silent throughout the action.Yet the area likewise became as peaceful as a movie theater in between aspects, good enough to ensure that play was delayed temporarily when the sky thick with expectancy was pierced through a little one's crying.Both males participated in to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one decline go as well as deposit it over the internet for a champion, he indulged the rowdy reaction through pointing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the run to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swung both arms overhead to urge people that presently were standing up and screaming.The first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with epic gos as well as epic activities. One game lasted 18 points spread over greater than a dozen exciting minutes, consisting of 5 break chances for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he so frequently is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system offer, however Djokovic moved only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand profit winner. After pair of oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley winner and also relied on face his household with a first held high.Another set, and also an additional tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic possessed that award that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as carried it to his lips for a kiss.