.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest championships and other headlines, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, truly preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final notable success overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at grow older 37, as well as no matter a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as evenly matched guys's tennis songs ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my family members-- my everything-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Incredible battle. Amazing battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent profession actually featured a males's- document 24 Conquest prizes as well as the absolute most weeks invested atop in the ranks through any sort of guy or girl. It likewise already had a Summer Olympics award, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and he created it very clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the ultimate gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I felt like, 'OK, let's make it through this one.' That's why today, just before the complement, I carried out not believe as anxious as I will normally think, because I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the best leg that needed surgery for a torn lens 2 months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round as well as eliminated his long time competitor in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest man to win the single people gold in his sport given that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic turned toward his group in the stands-- partaking front of his other half and their two children-- fell his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever, he wept as well as covered his face, at that point advanced and also got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic swung the flag." In the tough instants, he gave it an added press," Alcaraz stated with his personal splits. "It injures to shed similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments in spite of being chosen in simply two sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to comply with up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2013's ultimate at the All of England Club, however Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the website made use of for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating matchup, including among the most ideal to ever perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Indeed, it might possess been discouraging for Djokovic to find himself once more across the internet from a more youthful, faster variation of himself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic regularly searched for and also gestured and also murmured towards his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." In all honesty, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only instant I really thought I may gain the match," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of terrific ball-striking, ingenious drop shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be extra successful, sometimes so really good Djokovic dropped to even give pursuit-- as well as remarkable sprinting, moving, flexing protection at both ends. They provided thus effectively that neither got recovered cost once: Djokovic spared 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was how easily both guys participated in, in spite of the ability of the resistance as well as tension of the occasion.The just shame, perhaps, for the fans-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Create indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the program, frequently breaking out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, making a sonant fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to place a resurgence, his followers began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally advised individuals to continue to be quiet during the course of the action.Yet the place additionally ended up being as peaceful as a cinema between aspects, enough to make sure that play was actually delayed temporarily when the sky thick with anticipation was pierced through a young kid's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz raced to get to one reduce go as well as down payment it over the internet for a victor, he basked in the rowdy reaction by pointing his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand champion on the run to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms expenses to encourage folks who presently were actually standing up and screaming.The very first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, full of legendary shots and also epic video games. One game lasted 18 aspects spread over more than a loads enchanting mins, consisting of 5 break odds for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic managed to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he thus usually is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body provide, yet Djokovic slid just good enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand gain victor. After pair of blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and also looked to face his family members with a fist held high.Another collection, and an additional sudden death, eventually, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for a caress.