.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam champions and also various other labels, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, truly wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial achievement overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually obtained one at grow older 37, and also it matters not a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as uniformly matched men's tennis songs last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Unbelievable battle. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive career already featured a guys's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the absolute most full weeks spent atop in the rankings through any man or even girl. It also currently contained a Summertime Olympics award, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and he created it crystal 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 because round at the Gamings. He dropped to the eventual gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I felt like, 'OK, permit's get through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the fit, I did certainly not think as worried as I will typically think, given that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the right knee that demanded surgical procedure for a torn curve 2 months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as eliminated his long time rival in straight collections. Now Djokovic is the oldest male to win the songs gold in his sporting activity given that 1908-- as well as he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first occupation gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, due to one final forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the positions-- being in front of his partner and also their 2 youngsters-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay. As mental as ever, he burst into tears and covered his face, then progressed and nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the tough minutes, he offered it an additional push," Alcaraz mentioned with his own splits. "It hurts to drop enjoy this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes regardless of being chosen in only 2 collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic succeeded when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the website utilized for tennis throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an enthralling match, including some of the best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the best presently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could possibly possess been frustrating for Djokovic to discover themself once again all over the internet from a much younger, faster version of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly found and also gestured as well as murmured toward his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only second I actually presumed I may win the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps loaded with fantastic ball-striking, ingenious decline chances-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become more productive, sometimes so good Djokovic dropped to even offer chase-- and also remarkable sprinting, gliding, stretching self defense at each ends. They offered thus well that neither received recovered cost the moment: Djokovic conserved 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was actually how precisely both guys played, despite the skill of the opposition as well as stress of the occasion.The just shame, perhaps, for the supporters-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Create indisputable, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands entered into the show, repeatedly bursting out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, making an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz attempted to install a resurgence, his fans began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically reminded people to remain noiseless in the course of the action.Yet the place additionally became as silent as a theatre between aspects, good enough so that play was actually delayed briefly when the air close apprehension was actually pierced through a young kid's crying.Both men participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz dashed to reach one reduce chance as well as down payment it over the net for a champion, he indulged the rowdy response by pointing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cap a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms overhead to encourage people that actually were actually standing as well as screaming.The very first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with epic tries and epic video games. One video game lasted 18 points topped much more than a dozen enchanting minutes, featuring five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he thus frequently is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system offer, but Djokovic slid just good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand yield victor. After pair of errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley victor and also turned to encounter his loved ones along with a hand hosted high.Another collection, and yet another tiebreaker, later, and Djokovic had that award that he wished, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem completed calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for an embrace.