.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam champions and also various other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final significant success missing out on coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally received one at age 37, and also it doesn't matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as equally matched males's tennis songs last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body system, my loved ones-- my whatever-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Incredible battle. Amazing battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable job already included a guys's- file 24 Grand Slam trophies as well as the best full weeks invested atop in the positions by any guy or even girl. It additionally presently included a Summer Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the resulting gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's get through this set.' That is actually why today, before the match, I performed certainly not think as nervous as I will generally think, given that I had safeguarded an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the right leg that needed surgical operation for a torn lens pair of months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and removed his longtime opponent in straight collections. Now Djokovic is the oldest guy to win the songs gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one final forehand winner, Djokovic transformed toward his crew in the positions-- partaking front of his spouse as well as their pair of children-- dropped his racket and also knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever, he wept and covered his face, at that point rose as well as got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the difficult instants, he gave it an additional push," Alcaraz pointed out through his own tears. "It harms to drop such as this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins despite being actually determined in only 2 collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise beat Djokovic in last year's last at the All of England Club, but Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the website made use of for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an enthralling competition, including some of the most ideal to ever do it in Djokovic, and the most effective currently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could have been actually frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once more throughout the internet coming from a much younger, faster model of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic frequently looked up as well as gesticulated as well as muttered toward his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was actually the only instant I actually believed I can easily succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of superb ball-striking, nimble drop tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be more successful, often thus great Djokovic declined to even offer pursuit-- and remarkable sprinting, gliding, extending protection at both ends. They offered therefore properly that not either obtained broken even once: Djokovic spared 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, possibly, was actually exactly how safely each males participated in, regardless of the talent of the opposition and tension of the occasion.The only pity, possibly, for the followers-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Make indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the program, continuously bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, developing a sonant fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to place a comeback, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois periodically reminded people to stay soundless during the action.Yet the spot likewise came to be as peaceful as a cinema in between factors, good enough to ensure that play was actually put off for a while when the sky close anticipation was punctured by a child's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to reach one drop chance and deposit it over the internet for a champion, he basked in the raucous response by directing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand winner on the go to top a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swung both arms cost to urge individuals who already were actually standing up and also screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic chances and impressive video games. One video game lasted 18 points topped much more than a number of mesmerizing minutes, including five break odds for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he so frequently is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body offer, but Djokovic slid just good enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand return champion. After two blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley champion as well as counted on experience his family members with a hand conducted high.Another collection, and also another tiebreaker, later on, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he desired, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also delivered it to his lips for a kiss.