.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions and also various other labels, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, actually wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final significant accomplishment skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately got one at grow older 37, and also it matters not a little for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as equally matched guys's ping pong singles last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my family members-- my everything-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Unbelievable fight. Unbelievable match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding profession currently included a guys's- file 24 Grand Slam trophies as well as one of the most weeks spent atop in the ranks through any kind of male or girl. It also already contained a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and he created it very clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Video games. He dropped to the ultimate gold winner 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 encountering Musetti, Djokovic said, "I was like, 'OK, permit's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, before the match, I performed certainly not experience as anxious as I will generally experience, due to the fact that I had safeguarded a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that called for surgical operation for a torn lens two months ago, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second cycle as well as eliminated his longtime competitor in straight collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first occupation gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic transformed toward his group in the positions-- partaking front of his spouse and also their pair of kids-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he cried as well as covered his face, at that point increased and got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the challenging seconds, he offered it an additional press," Alcaraz claimed with his own splits. "It injures to drop enjoy this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 moments regardless of being actually decided in only 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All of England Nightclub, however Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition secured at Roland Garros, the web site utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was a fascinating matchup, including among the most effective to ever do it in Djokovic, and the best presently in Alcaraz. Without a doubt, it could possibly possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to discover himself once again across the net coming from a younger, faster version of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly searched for as well as gesticulated and also sputtered towards his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." In all honesty, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was the only moment I actually thought I can gain the suit," Djokovic said.It required long exchanges filled with superb ball-striking, skilled drop chances-- Alcaraz's often tended to be much more effective, often thus really good Djokovic decreased to also provide chase-- and significant sprinting, moving, flexing defense at both ends. They offered therefore effectively that not either acquired broken even as soon as: Djokovic saved eight break aspects, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, possibly, was exactly how safely both men played, even with the skill of the opposition and stress of the occasion.The simply embarassment, possibly, for the supporters-- and also normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Produce indisputable, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the show, repeatedly breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, making a theatrical fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz attempted to position a rebound, his followers started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally advised individuals to remain silent during the action.Yet the spot also became as silent as a movie theater between points, sufficient to ensure play was actually postponed briefly when the air close expectancy was actually pierced through a kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decrease try and also down payment it over the web for a champion, he indulged in the rowdy response through directing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the run to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swung both arms overhead to urge folks who presently were standing as well as screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with legendary chances and also legendary games. One activity lasted 18 factors spread over more than a dozen thrilling moments, including 5 break odds for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic managed to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore usually is, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body offer, however Djokovic glided just good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain victor. After two oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery winner and relied on encounter his family along with a fist hosted high.Another set, and another tiebreaker, eventually, and Djokovic had that medal that he wished, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as took it to his lips for a caress.