.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam championships and also other titles, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, really wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial success overlooking coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally got one at grow older 37, and also it matters not a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also uniformly matched males's ping pong singles last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body system, my household-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Extraordinary war. Incredible match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable occupation already included a men's- document 24 Conquest prizes and one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any kind of guy or even lady. It also already contained a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he made it clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He shed to the resulting gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I was like, 'OK, let's get through this.' That's why today, just before the complement, I did certainly not feel as tense as I will normally experience, considering that I had secured an award." In Paris, using a gray sleeve over the best leg that demanded surgical procedure for a torn lens pair of months back, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as removed his longtime opponent in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- as well as he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial profession gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, due to one last forehand winner, Djokovic transformed toward his team in the stands-- partaking front of his spouse and their 2 children-- lost his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he shed tears and covered his face, at that point advanced as well as got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the tough moments, he offered it an extra push," Alcaraz stated with his own rips. "It hurts to drop such as this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments despite being actually made a decision in only 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to adhere to up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in last year's final at the All England Club, but Djokovic succeeded when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the website utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an enthralling competition, featuring some of the most ideal to ever do it in Djokovic, and the very best currently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it might have been irritating for Djokovic to find themself once again around the web coming from a much younger, faster model of himself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly found and also gesticulated and also whispered toward his visitor box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was actually the only instant I in fact assumed I can succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps filled with wonderful ball-striking, ingenious decline tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to become more prosperous, in some cases so really good Djokovic declined to even offer hunt-- and significant sprinting, moving, extending protection at each ends. They served thus properly that not either received recovered cost the moment: Djokovic spared 8 breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, maybe, was actually how easily each guys played, despite the skill of the resistance and stress of the occasion.The only pity, probably, for the fans-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create indisputable, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a major final.Those in the stands entered into the show, consistently bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz tried to mount a return, his supporters began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded individuals to continue to be noiseless throughout the action.Yet the area additionally ended up being as silent as a cinema between factors, good enough to ensure play was actually postponed temporarily when the sky thick with anticipation was actually punctured by a little one's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to arrive at one decrease go as well as down payment it over the web for a winner, he indulged the raucous reaction by pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to top a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both upper arms expenses to urge individuals who already were standing up as well as screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with legendary tries as well as impressive video games. One video game lasted 18 aspects spread over more than a number of magical moments, consisting of five break possibilities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he thus often is actually, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body serve, but Djokovic moved simply good enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit champion. After two oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley champion as well as turned to face his household with a hand conducted high.Another collection, and yet another sudden death, later, as well as Djokovic had that award that he wished, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for a kiss.