.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam champions and other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, really wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final significant success missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately obtained one at grow older 37, and also no matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as equally matched men's ping pong single people ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my body, my family-- my everything-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Extraordinary war. Astonishing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive occupation presently included a men's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and the absolute most weeks spent atop in the positions by any man or lady. It additionally actually included a Summer season Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and he made it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Video games. He dropped to the ultimate gold champion 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 experiencing Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I was like, 'OK, allow's make it through this.' That is actually why today, before the complement, I carried out not feel as tense as I would commonly think, considering that I had actually protected an award." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the correct leg that needed surgery for a torn meniscus two months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and also removed his longtime opponent in straight collections. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to win the single people gold in his sport considering that 1908-- as well as he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, thanks to one last forehand winner, Djokovic turned towards his crew in the positions-- partaking front of his better half and also their pair of youngsters-- lost his racket and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he shed tears as well as covered his face, then increased and ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the tough moments, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz mentioned through his personal tears. "It injures to drop like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 moments regardless of being actually made a decision in merely 2 collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to comply with up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz likewise beat Djokovic in last year's last at the All of England Club, however Djokovic gained when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the web site used for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling matchup, including among the very best to ever do it in Djokovic, as well as the best presently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it can have been actually irritating for Djokovic to locate himself once more around the internet from a much younger, faster model of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic often searched for and gesticulated and also murmured towards his guest box.Still, he came out on top." Truthfully, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only instant I in fact thought I can gain the suit," Djokovic said.It required long swaps filled with wonderful ball-striking, nimble decrease tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to be much more effective, occasionally therefore great Djokovic decreased to even offer pursuit-- and significant sprinting, moving, stretching defense at both ends. They served therefore effectively that not either got broken even when: Djokovic saved eight rest points, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, probably, was exactly how safely both males participated in, regardless of the skill of the resistance and also stress of the occasion.The simply shame, probably, for the fans-- and also normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Produce no mistake, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands entered into the show, repeatedly breaking out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz tried to place a revival, his followers began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically told people to continue to be soundless in the course of the action.Yet the spot additionally became as silent as a movie theater between points, good enough to ensure that play was actually postponed temporarily when the air thick with apprehension was punctured through a little one's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to hit one decline shot and also deposit it over the net for a champion, he indulged in the raucous reaction through pointing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the run to top a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both arms expenses to encourage folks who actually were standing up and screaming.The first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, full of impressive chances as well as legendary video games. One game lasted 18 points spread over more than a dozen thrilling minutes, including 5 rest possibilities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic managed to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he thus commonly is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body offer, but Djokovic moved only good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit victor. After 2 blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery victor and counted on face his family along with a clenched fist conducted high.Another collection, as well as an additional sudden death, eventually, and also Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as brought it to his lips for a caress.