.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, truly wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable accomplishment skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly got one at age 37, and it doesn't matter a bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as equally matched men's tennis songs last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my physical body, my family members-- my whatever-- vulnerable to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Unbelievable battle. Extraordinary match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable job already included a males's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies as well as the most weeks spent atop in the rankings through any type of male or even lady. It likewise currently had a Summer months Olympics award, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- and he produced it clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Video 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 three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I felt like, 'OK, permit's survive this one.' That is actually why today, prior to the complement, I did not think as nervous as I will commonly feel, considering that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the correct leg that required surgical treatment for a torn lens two months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second cycle as well as eliminated his long time rival in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest male to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, thanks to one last forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his group in the positions-- partaking front of his other half and their 2 children-- lost his noise as well as knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he sobbed and covered his face, at that point progressed as well as got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the difficult minutes, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz stated with his own tears. "It hurts to drop like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments in spite of being actually decided in merely 2 sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the site made use of for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling matchup, including among the most effective to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the greatest right now in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it might have been actually discouraging for Djokovic to discover themself once more throughout the web coming from a much younger, faster version of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic regularly looked up and gestured and sputtered towards his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Frankly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was the only minute I in fact thought I can gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions loaded with superb ball-striking, quick decline tries-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be even more successful, sometimes so good Djokovic decreased to even give hunt-- as well as tremendous sprinting, sliding, extending self defense at each ends. They provided therefore properly that neither obtained recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic conserved eight breather points, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, maybe, was actually how safely both males played, regardless of the skill of the opposition as well as pressure of the occasion.The only embarassment, perhaps, for the followers-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Create no mistake, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the show, consistently breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, generating an operatic fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz sought to place a rebound, his supporters began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally told folks to stay silent throughout the action.Yet the spot also came to be as peaceful as a cinema between factors, enough in order that play was postponed briefly when the sky close apprehension was pierced through a kid's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to get to one reduce shot and down payment it over the web for a champion, he indulged in the rowdy reaction by aiming his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both upper arms expenses to promote folks that presently were standing up as well as screaming.The first collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with epic gos as well as epic games. One video game lasted 18 factors topped much more than a number of magical moments, including 5 break chances for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic managed to contain for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he therefore usually is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, but Djokovic moved just sufficient to his left to punch a cross-court forehand yield winner. After pair of oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a volley victor and also looked to encounter his loved ones with a first conducted high.Another set, and another tiebreaker, later on, as well as Djokovic possessed that award that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for a kiss.