.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam championships as well as other labels, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final substantial success skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately acquired one at age 37, and also no matter a bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and equally matched guys's tennis single people final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Amazing fight. Fabulous fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding job currently included a guys's- document 24 Grand Slam prizes and one of the most full weeks invested atop in the ranks through any sort of male or female. It also currently had a Summertime Olympics medal, from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and also he produced it clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Video games. He lost to the resulting gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's get through this.' That is actually why today, prior to the complement, I performed not experience as stressed as I will normally experience, because I had secured an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the appropriate knee that called for surgery for a torn lens pair of months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as eliminated his long time opponent in straight sets. Currently Djokovic is the oldest man to win the songs gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one final forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his team in the positions-- sitting in front of his better half and also their two youngsters-- dropped his racket as well as knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever before, he cried as well as covered his face, then increased and also got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the hard minutes, he provided it an additional push," Alcaraz claimed via his own rips. "It harms to drop like this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins in spite of being decided in merely 2 sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All England Club, but Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the site made use of for tennis during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating match, including among the best to ever do it in Djokovic, and the very best currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it might have been actually discouraging for Djokovic to find himself once again all over the internet from a much younger, speedier version of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently searched for and gesticulated and also muttered towards his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Frankly, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was the only instant I actually believed I can easily gain the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions filled with wonderful ball-striking, ingenious decline gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be more successful, in some cases therefore excellent Djokovic decreased to also provide chase-- and also tremendous sprinting, sliding, extending protection at each ends. They served so properly that neither got broken even when: Djokovic conserved eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, maybe, was exactly how easily each males participated in, regardless of the skill of the hostility and pressure of the occasion.The just embarassment, possibly, for the fans-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Produce no mistake, this experience 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, repetitively bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, developing a sonant fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz sought to install a rebound, his proponents started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind folks to stay silent during the action.Yet the area likewise became as quiet as a theater between points, good enough so that play was actually put off for a while when the air close anticipation was actually punctured by a little one's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to hit one decrease try and down payment it over the net for a victor, he indulged the raucous response by directing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the go to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both arms overhead to encourage people who presently were actually standing and also screaming.The initial set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with legendary gos and legendary games. One game lasted 18 factors topped much more than a number of mesmerizing moments, featuring five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he thus usually is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body serve, however Djokovic moved just sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return winner. After pair of errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery victor and counted on experience his family with a first conducted high.Another collection, as well as another tiebreaker, eventually, as well as Djokovic possessed that medal that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and carried it to his lips for an embrace.