.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions as well as various other headlines, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, truly preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final considerable success skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately got one at age 37, as well as never mind a little bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as evenly matched males's ping pong songs ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my physical body, my household-- my every thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Extraordinary struggle. Awesome match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent career actually featured a males's- file 24 Conquest trophies and one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the rankings by any guy or even woman. It also already included a Summer months Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he created it clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Games. He shed to the eventual gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, let's get through this one.' That's why today, prior to the fit, I did certainly not feel as stressed as I will normally experience, given that I had gotten an award." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the right knee that demanded surgical operation for a torn meniscus two months back, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second round and removed his longtime rival in straight sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest man to gain the single people gold in his sporting activity because 1908-- and also he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one final forehand champion, Djokovic switched towards his group in the positions-- being in front of his spouse as well as their two kids-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he wept and covered his face, at that point advanced and also grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the tough instants, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz claimed by means of his very own tears. "It injures to shed enjoy this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins even with being actually determined in simply pair of sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2015's final at the All of England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the website utilized for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling matchup, featuring some of the most effective to ever do it in Djokovic, and also the greatest right now in Alcaraz. Certainly, it can have been frustrating for Djokovic to discover themself once more across the internet coming from a younger, faster version of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic often looked up and gesticulated and muttered towards his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was actually the only instant I really assumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions filled with fantastic ball-striking, quick decrease tries-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become extra successful, occasionally therefore really good Djokovic dropped to even provide hunt-- and significant sprinting, sliding, extending protection at both ends. They provided so effectively that neither obtained equalized once: Djokovic saved eight rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was how precisely both guys participated in, in spite of the skill of the opposition as well as tension of the occasion.The just pity, probably, for the enthusiasts-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Help make no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands entered into the program, repetitively bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, developing a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz tried to mount a rebound, his followers started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Seat moderator Damien Dumusois from time to time advised people to stay noiseless throughout the action.Yet the place also ended up being as silent as a theatre in between factors, sufficient in order that play was actually postponed briefly when the air thick with apprehension was punctured through a child's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to reach one drop chance and deposit it over the internet for a winner, he basked in the raucous response through aiming his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both arms expenses to encourage individuals that currently were actually standing up as well as screaming.The first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with epic chances and also legendary games. One game lasted 18 aspects spread over much more than a number of mesmerizing minutes, consisting of 5 rest chances for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to carry for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he so commonly is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system provide, however Djokovic slid simply enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit victor. After 2 blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a volley winner as well as turned to encounter his household along with a first had high.Another collection, and also another sudden death, eventually, as well as Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as took it to his lips for a caress.