.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions and also various other titles, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, truly desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last notable accomplishment overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually acquired one at age 37, and also it does not matter a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and evenly matched males's ping pong singles final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my spirit, my body, my family-- my every little thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Incredible fight. Unbelievable match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional profession actually featured a males's- document 24 Conquest trophies and also the absolute most full weeks spent atop in the rankings through any sort of man or woman. It additionally presently contained a Summertime Olympics award, coming from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and he produced it clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Video games. He dropped to the eventual gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I was like, 'OK, permit's get through this.' That's why today, just before the fit, I carried out certainly not feel as stressed as I will generally feel, because I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the ideal knee that needed surgery for a torn crescent two months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the 2nd round and also eliminated his longtime opponent in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is the earliest man to gain the singles gold in his sport because 1908-- as well as he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his team in the stands-- partaking front of his better half as well as their pair of little ones-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he wailed and also covered his face, then increased and also took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swung the flag." In the tough seconds, he offered it an additional press," Alcaraz stated via his own tears. "It harms to lose like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 minutes regardless of being actually chosen in only 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All England Club, but Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for tennis in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating matchup, featuring some of the most effective to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the most effective presently in Alcaraz. Indeed, it can have been actually disheartening for Djokovic to locate himself once more across the internet from a much younger, faster variation of himself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly sought out as well as gestured as well as muttered toward his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was actually the only moment I really assumed I may win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps loaded with exceptional ball-striking, deft drop shots-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be much more successful, often so excellent Djokovic dropped to also offer pursuit-- and also remarkable sprinting, sliding, stretching self defense at each ends. They provided therefore effectively that neither got broken even the moment: Djokovic conserved 8 rest aspects, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, maybe, was actually just how easily both guys played, despite the skill of the hostility and also pressure of the occasion.The just shame, possibly, for the supporters-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create indisputable, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the program, frequently bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, producing an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to position a rebound, his promoters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois sometimes reminded people to continue to be silent during the course of the action.Yet the location additionally came to be as quiet as a movie theater between factors, good enough so that play was actually postponed for a while when the sky close expectancy was actually pierced by a child's crying.Both guys played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one decrease shot and down payment it over the internet for a champion, he indulged the raucous reaction by directing his ideal forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the run to cap a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both upper arms expenses to urge individuals who currently were actually standing and screaming.The initial collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, loaded with epic shots as well as epic games. One video game lasted 18 aspects topped greater than a loads thrilling moments, including five rest chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic managed to accommodate for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he therefore usually is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system provide, however Djokovic moved just sufficient to his left to punch a cross-court forehand profit winner. After pair of mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery champion and also turned to experience his family along with a first hosted high.Another set, and one more sudden death, later on, as well as Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and delivered it to his lips for an embrace.