.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest champions and various other labels, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, truly preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last notable success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually received one at grow older 37, and also it doesn't matter a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and equally matched men's tennis single people ultimate at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my physical body, my household-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Extraordinary struggle. Incredible battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive job already included a guys's- file 24 Conquest trophies and the absolute most full weeks spent atop in the positions through any kind of male or even female. It likewise actually had a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, but it was a bronze-- as well as he produced it very clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Video games. He lost to the eventual gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's get through this set.' That's why today, before the fit, I performed not think as anxious as I would usually experience, because I had actually safeguarded an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the correct knee that called for surgical treatment for a torn lens two months ago, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd round as well as eliminated his long time rival in organized collections. Currently Djokovic is the earliest guy to win the singles gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his initial career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one final forehand champion, Djokovic transformed towards his staff in the positions-- being in front of his spouse and also their pair of kids-- fell his noise and also knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he shed tears and covered his face, at that point advanced and nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the difficult moments, he provided it an extra press," Alcaraz pointed out through his very own rips. "It harms to lose similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 mins despite being actually decided in only pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in last year's last at the All England Nightclub, yet Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an enthralling match, featuring among the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the greatest at the moment in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possibly have been frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once again around the web coming from a younger, faster model of themself. Possibly that's why Djokovic often sought out as well as gestured as well as whispered toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Frankly, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was the only moment I in fact presumed I can succeed the match," Djokovic said.It called for long substitutions filled with superb ball-striking, skilled drop shots-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be a lot more effective, sometimes thus good Djokovic decreased to even give chase-- and incredible sprinting, sliding, flexing defense at each ends. They provided therefore well that neither obtained equalized once: Djokovic conserved 8 break points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was exactly how easily both guys played, despite the talent of the opposition as well as pressure of the occasion.The just pity, perhaps, for the supporters-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Produce indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the stands entered into the series, frequently bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, creating a theatrical fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz tried to position a rebound, his followers began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to stay quiet in the course of the action.Yet the spot likewise became as quiet as a theater between points, enough to ensure play was actually delayed temporarily when the sky thick with apprehension was punctured by a kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz competed to reach one drop go as well as deposit it over the web for a victor, he basked in the rowdy reaction through aiming his right forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the run to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both upper arms overhead to urge people that actually were standing up as well as screaming.The very first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with impressive tries and also legendary activities. One video game lasted 18 points spread over more than a dozen exciting moments, consisting of five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic managed to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he therefore commonly is, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, but Djokovic glided only good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain winner. After two errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner as well as looked to experience his loved ones with a hand held high.Another collection, and an additional tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic possessed that medal that he really wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also delivered it to his lips for a caress.