.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam championships as well as other labels, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable achievement overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at age 37, and also no matter a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also evenly matched males's ping pong singles final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my physical body, my family members-- my every little thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Incredible fight. Incredible battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding profession actually included a men's- report 24 Conquest trophies as well as the most full weeks devoted atop in the positions through any type of guy or even lady. It additionally actually consisted of a Summer months Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- as well as he produced it very clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he got past 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 possible gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, let's get through this set.' That is actually why today, just before the match, I carried out certainly not think as anxious as I will usually think, considering that I had actually protected an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the ideal leg that required surgical treatment for a torn meniscus pair of months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second cycle and removed his long time rival in straight sets. Now Djokovic is the oldest male to win the singles gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, due to one final forehand winner, Djokovic switched toward his team in the positions-- sitting in front of his spouse and also their 2 kids-- dropped his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever, he burst into tears as well as covered his face, then progressed and also grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the hard seconds, he provided it an added push," Alcaraz stated with his own splits. "It injures to shed like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments despite being actually made a decision in only two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in last year's last at the All of England Club, but Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the internet site made use of for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating match, including among the most effective to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and the very best right now in Alcaraz. Indeed, it can have been actually annoying for Djokovic to discover himself once more across the internet from a much younger, speedier variation of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly looked up and also gestured and whispered towards his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was actually the only moment I really presumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps full of terrific ball-striking, ingenious reduce gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be much more prosperous, sometimes therefore excellent Djokovic dropped to also offer chase-- as well as significant sprinting, sliding, stretching defense at each ends. They offered so properly that neither received recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic conserved 8 rest aspects, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was how safely both men played, even with the talent of the opposition and stress of the occasion.The merely embarassment, possibly, for the followers-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Help make indisputable, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands entered into the program, repetitively breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, developing a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a revival, his promoters started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Chair moderator Damien Dumusois occasionally told folks to continue to be silent during the action.Yet the area also came to be as silent as a movie theater in between points, good enough in order that play was put off briefly when the air thick with apprehension was actually punctured through a kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to hit one decrease try and deposit it over the net for a champion, he basked in the raucous response by directing his ideal index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the run to top a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swung both arms cost to urge individuals who currently were standing up as well as screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, full of legendary shots as well as legendary games. One activity lasted 18 points spread over much more than a loads mesmerizing moments, featuring five rest opportunities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic handled to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he so commonly is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system serve, however Djokovic glided simply sufficient to his left to punch a cross-court forehand profit victor. After 2 mistakes through Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery champion as well as turned to encounter his household along with a first conducted high.Another set, as well as yet another tiebreaker, later on, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also brought it to his lips for an embrace.