.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam champions and other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, really desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable achievement skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately obtained one at age 37, and it does not matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and equally matched guys's tennis singles last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my spirit, my body system, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Extraordinary battle. Amazing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable occupation currently featured a men's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and the best full weeks spent atop in the rankings through any kind of man or even woman. It likewise presently contained a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and he created it clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that cycle at the Video games. He shed to the possible gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, let's survive this one.' That's why today, just before the complement, I carried out not feel as tense as I would generally feel, due to the fact that I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the appropriate leg that required surgical treatment for a torn meniscus two months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second cycle and eliminated his longtime opponent in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest male to gain the singles gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and also he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one final forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his team in the positions-- being in front of his better half as well as their 2 children-- fell his racket and knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he cried and covered his face, after that progressed as well as snatched a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the tough moments, he gave it an added push," Alcaraz stated by means of his personal tears. "It harms to shed like this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins in spite of being actually chosen in just pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2015's final at the All of England Club, however Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an enthralling competition, including one of the most effective to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the most ideal presently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possibly possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to discover themself once more all over the web coming from a more youthful, speedier variation of themself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic frequently searched for and also gestured as well as murmured toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was the only second I actually presumed I can win the match," Djokovic said.It required long exchanges filled with exceptional ball-striking, deft decline tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to become much more successful, at times so great Djokovic dropped to also provide pursuit-- and also incredible sprinting, gliding, stretching self defense at both ends. They provided so properly that neither received recovered cost when: Djokovic spared 8 break factors, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, probably, was actually exactly how safely each males played, despite the skill of the hostility as well as tension of the occasion.The only embarassment, possibly, for the enthusiasts-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set format, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam competitions. Create no mistake, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the show, continuously bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, producing an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a rebound, his promoters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Seat moderator Damien Dumusois from time to time reminded people to remain silent during the course of the action.Yet the location also became as silent as a movie theater in between aspects, good enough to ensure that play was actually delayed for a while when the sky thick with expectancy was actually pierced through a kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz raced to get to one decline go and deposit it over the internet for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction through directing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both arms expenses to promote folks that actually were standing up as well as screaming.The first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, packed with epic tries and epic activities. One activity lasted 18 aspects topped much more than a dozen mesmerizing mins, including five rest possibilities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he thus frequently is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system serve, but Djokovic moved merely enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand return winner. After two mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery champion and also turned to face his loved ones along with a first held high.Another set, as well as yet another tiebreaker, eventually, as well as Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for an embrace.