.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and also various other headlines, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, definitely preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable accomplishment overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately got one at age 37, and it does not matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and uniformly matched guys's tennis singles final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my physical body, my loved ones-- my everything-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Incredible war. Extraordinary battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent job currently included a males's- file 24 Conquest trophies and also the best weeks invested atop in the rankings by any kind of male or even girl. It also already consisted of a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- as well as he made it very clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because round at the Video games. He lost to the eventual gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's survive this.' That's why today, prior to the suit, I did certainly not believe as stressed as I will commonly believe, given that I had actually protected an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the correct leg that needed surgical operation for a torn crescent pair of months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd round and also removed his longtime rival in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the single people gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- as well as he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed toward his group in the positions-- partaking front of his partner and their pair of youngsters-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever before, he sobbed and also covered his face, then advanced as well as got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the hard instants, he offered it an added press," Alcaraz said with his personal splits. "It injures to lose such as this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments even with being actually determined in simply 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in last year's last at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic won when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the web site utilized for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an enthralling competition, featuring one of the most ideal to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it could possibly have been actually disheartening for Djokovic to find himself once more all over the internet coming from a more youthful, speedier variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic regularly searched for as well as gestured and murmured towards his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." In all honesty, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was actually the only second I actually assumed I may win the match," Djokovic said.It required long exchanges full of exceptional ball-striking, deft decrease chances-- Alcaraz's tended to become a lot more effective, in some cases thus great Djokovic declined to also offer chase-- and remarkable sprinting, gliding, stretching protection at each ends. They provided thus well that not either received broken even when: Djokovic saved eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, probably, was actually how easily both men participated in, even with the skill of the resistance and also tension of the occasion.The simply pity, probably, for the fans-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Help make indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the program, continuously breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, producing an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to position a rebound, his proponents began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois periodically reminded individuals to remain soundless during the action.Yet the location additionally ended up being as peaceful as a cinema between aspects, good enough to make sure that play was put off for a while when the sky close expectancy was actually punctured through a young kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz competed to get to one drop go and down payment it over the internet for a victor, he indulged in the raucous response by directing his best index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both arms overhead to urge individuals that already were actually standing and also screaming.The first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, full of legendary tries and also impressive video games. One game lasted 18 factors topped more than a dozen mesmerizing mins, featuring 5 break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to carry for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he therefore commonly is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system provide, but Djokovic glided simply enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit victor. After pair of mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery champion as well as counted on face his household along with a first conducted high.Another set, and also yet another tiebreaker, eventually, and Djokovic had that medal that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as brought it to his lips for an embrace.