.PARIS-- For each one of his Conquest champions and also various other titles, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, actually wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable achievement missing out on from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually got one at age 37, and also never mind a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and also equally matched males's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my physical body, my family members-- my whatever-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Astonishing war. Astonishing fight." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional job actually included a men's- report 24 Grand Slam prizes as well as the absolute most weeks devoted atop in the rankings through any guy or even woman. It also presently had a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it crystal clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because cycle at the Video games. He shed to the eventual gold winner each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's get through this one.' That's why today, before the match, I carried out not think as tense as I would typically experience, due to the fact that I had gotten an award." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the appropriate knee that required surgery for a torn lens two months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd round and also removed his longtime opponent in straight sets. Now Djokovic is the oldest male to gain the single people gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- as well as he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one final forehand victor, Djokovic turned towards his group in the stands-- partaking front of his other half and their pair of children-- dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he wept and covered his face, after that advanced and got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the positions, Djokovic swayed the flag." In the difficult instants, he offered it an added press," Alcaraz pointed out via his personal splits. "It harms to drop enjoy this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes despite being determined in just pair of collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All of England Club, yet Djokovic won when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the web site utilized for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing matchup, including some of the most ideal to ever do it in Djokovic, and the most effective right now in Alcaraz. Indeed, it could possibly have been actually disheartening for Djokovic to find themself once more around the internet from a much younger, speedier model of himself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic often sought out and also gestured and also whispered towards his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." Frankly, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was the only second I actually believed I may succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions filled with fantastic ball-striking, ingenious reduce tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to become even more productive, often therefore excellent Djokovic decreased to even provide chase-- as well as enormous sprinting, sliding, stretching defense at each ends. They served therefore properly that neither obtained equalized once: Djokovic saved 8 breather points, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, perhaps, was actually exactly how precisely both guys participated in, even with the ability of the hostility and tension of the occasion.The just shame, possibly, for the enthusiasts-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Help make no mistake, 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 series, repeatedly breaking out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, producing an operatic fugue. In the 2nd set, as Alcaraz attempted to place a rebound, his supporters began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois periodically advised people to stay noiseless throughout the action.Yet the area also ended up being as silent as a theater in between factors, good enough in order that play was actually postponed temporarily when the air close apprehension was pierced by a young kid's crying.Both men participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to get to one decrease chance and also down payment it over the net for a victor, he indulged the raucous response through pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swung both upper arms cost to promote individuals who actually were standing up as well as screaming.The initial set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, filled with legendary chances as well as legendary activities. One activity lasted 18 aspects spread over much more than a dozen thrilling mins, including five rest odds for Alcaraz, before Djokovic took care of to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he therefore typically is actually, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body provide, but Djokovic slid merely sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return winner. After two blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery champion and also relied on encounter his family members along with a clenched fist hosted high.Another set, and also yet another sudden death, later, as well as Djokovic possessed that award that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for an embrace.