.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam championships and other labels, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, truly wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final considerable accomplishment skipping from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at grow older 37, and it does not matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as uniformly matched guys's ping pong single people final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my body, my family members-- my whatever-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Astonishing war. Incredible match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional profession already included a men's- record 24 Conquest trophies and also the best full weeks devoted atop in the rankings by any type of guy or girl. It additionally presently included a Summertime Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and he produced it clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 in that cycle at the Games. He shed to the eventual gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I felt like, 'OK, let's survive this one.' That's why today, prior to the suit, I performed not think as nervous as I would ordinarily experience, given that I had actually safeguarded a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the ideal knee that required surgical treatment for a torn meniscus two months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd cycle and also removed his longtime rival in straight collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one final forehand victor, Djokovic switched towards his crew in the stands-- partaking front of his partner as well as their two little ones-- lost his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever before, he shed tears as well as covered his face, at that point progressed and also took hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the difficult minutes, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz stated via his personal tears. "It injures to shed like this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins regardless of being chosen in only 2 sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in last year's final at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was a fascinating matchup, featuring some of the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possibly have been actually frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once more across the internet coming from a much younger, faster model of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly looked up and gestured and sputtered toward his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Truthfully, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was the only moment I in fact presumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps full of superb ball-striking, nimble decline gos-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become much more effective, at times therefore really good Djokovic declined to also provide hunt-- as well as tremendous sprinting, gliding, extending defense at both ends. They served therefore properly that not either obtained equalized as soon as: Djokovic spared eight breather factors, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, probably, was actually how precisely each men participated in, even with the talent of the opposition and also tension of the occasion.The simply embarassment, probably, for the fans-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest events. Produce indisputable, this conflict in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions became part of the series, repetitively breaking out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, generating an operatic fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz attempted to place a revival, his advocates began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois sometimes helped remind folks to stay noiseless during the action.Yet the area likewise came to be as peaceful as a theatre between factors, good enough to ensure that play was actually put off for a while when the air thick with apprehension was actually pierced by a young kid's crying.Both guys played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one drop shot and down payment it over the web for a champion, he indulged the rowdy response through aiming his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both arms expenses to encourage individuals that already were standing up and screaming.The initial collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with legendary tries and also impressive video games. One activity lasted 18 aspects topped more than a dozen magical moments, featuring 5 break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic took care of to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he so often is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body serve, yet Djokovic slid just sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return victor. After pair of errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley champion and also relied on face his household with a hand held high.Another collection, and an additional sudden death, later, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as delivered it to his lips for a kiss.