.PARIS-- For each of his Conquest champions and various other headlines, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, really yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last significant success skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly got one at grow older 37, and it matters not a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also uniformly matched males's tennis single people final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my physical body, my family-- my every thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Amazing fight. Amazing fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent occupation currently included a men's- report 24 Conquest prizes and the most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks through any kind of man or lady. It additionally presently contained a Summer Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and also he produced it crystal 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 in that cycle at the Games. He lost to the ultimate gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic said, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's get through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the match, I did certainly not feel as worried as I would usually feel, considering that I had actually protected a medal." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the best leg that needed surgical treatment for a torn lens two months back, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second round and also removed his long time opponent in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest male to gain the single people gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed towards his group in the stands-- being in front of his wife and their two kids-- fell his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever, he sobbed as well as covered his face, then increased as well as ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the challenging instants, he offered it an added press," Alcaraz pointed out through his personal splits. "It injures to drop similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments in spite of being actually determined in only 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in in 2014's final at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic won when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the site used for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was a fascinating competition, featuring some of the best to ever before perform it in Djokovic, as well as the best currently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possibly possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to find himself once again all over the net from a more youthful, speedier variation of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic often looked up and gesticulated and also muttered towards his guest box.Still, he came out on top." In all honesty, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only minute I in fact thought I can win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions full of wonderful ball-striking, quick reduce shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be extra effective, occasionally thus excellent Djokovic dropped to also offer pursuit-- and also significant sprinting, moving, extending defense at both ends. They provided thus well that neither acquired broken even once: Djokovic spared 8 breather factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was how easily both men played, despite the skill of the hostility and also pressure of the occasion.The just pity, maybe, for the fans-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Create indisputable, this conflict in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a significant final.Those in the positions entered into the program, continuously bursting out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, creating a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to place a resurgence, his supporters began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically reminded people to stay quiet during the course of the action.Yet the place likewise became as quiet as a cinema between aspects, sufficient in order that play was put off briefly when the air close anticipation was punctured by a young kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to get to one reduce shot as well as down payment it over the internet for a winner, he indulged in the raucous reaction through aiming his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the run to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swung both arms overhead to promote individuals who already were actually standing up and screaming.The first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, full of legendary tries and also impressive games. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over more than a number of mesmerizing minutes, including five break possibilities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he therefore often is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system serve, yet Djokovic slid only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return winner. After pair of mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery victor as well as counted on encounter his family with a hand hosted high.Another set, as well as another tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic had that medal that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as brought it to his lips for a kiss.