.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest champions and also other headlines, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, truly yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final significant success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally received one at grow older 37, and also it doesn't matter a little the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as uniformly matched males's tennis single people last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my soul, my soul, my physical body, my household-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Fabulous battle. Incredible match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding job currently featured a guys's- report 24 Conquest trophies and the absolute most weeks devoted atop in the rankings through any sort of man or even woman. It likewise currently included a Summer months Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was a bronze-- as well as he made it crystal clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Gamings. He dropped to the resulting gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the fit, I did certainly not feel as tense as I would commonly feel, considering that I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the right leg that needed surgery for a torn curve pair of months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second cycle and removed his longtime competitor in organized collections. Currently Djokovic is the earliest guy to gain the singles gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, due to one final forehand champion, Djokovic transformed towards his staff in the positions-- partaking front of his better half and also their pair of youngsters-- fell his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever, he wept as well as covered his face, at that point progressed as well as grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the tough instants, he provided it an additional press," Alcaraz said with his personal rips. "It hurts to shed such as this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 moments in spite of being actually determined in only pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to observe up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All England Club, yet Djokovic won 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 tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating competition, including one of the very best to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Indeed, it could possibly possess been actually annoying for Djokovic to locate himself once again all over the net coming from a more youthful, speedier variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently found and also gesticulated and murmured towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only second I really thought I can easily succeed the match," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps filled with wonderful ball-striking, skilled decline tries-- Alcaraz's tended to become extra successful, at times thus really good Djokovic decreased to also give chase-- and also significant sprinting, gliding, flexing defense at both ends. They offered therefore properly that neither obtained broken even once: Djokovic conserved eight rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, possibly, was actually exactly how cleanly both men played, in spite of the skill of the hostility as well as pressure of the occasion.The just embarassment, perhaps, for the supporters-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Create indisputable, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the positions became part of the show, frequently breaking out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating a sonant fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to place a revival, his advocates started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes told folks to stay silent throughout the action.Yet the area additionally ended up being as quiet as a movie theater in between aspects, sufficient in order that play was put off for a while when the air thick with anticipation was punctured by a kid's crying.Both males participated in to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to get to one reduce go and also deposit it over the net for a winner, he indulged in the rowdy response through pointing his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swayed both arms overhead to motivate folks who currently were actually standing up and screaming.The first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with impressive chances and epic games. One video game lasted 18 aspects topped more than a lots enchanting minutes, consisting of 5 rest opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he thus usually is actually, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body offer, however Djokovic moved just good enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand gain victor. After two oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery victor as well as looked to experience his family along with a clenched fist had high.Another collection, as well as one more sudden death, later, and also Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as brought it to his lips for a kiss.