.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam champions as well as other titles, for every one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, truly preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last substantial achievement missing out on coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly received one at age 37, and it doesn't matter a little bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also uniformly matched guys's ping pong singles final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my household-- my every thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Astonishing battle. Incredible match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional job actually included a guys's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies and also the best weeks invested atop in the rankings by any kind of guy or even woman. It also actually included a Summer months Olympics award, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he made it crystal clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Gamings. He shed to the ultimate gold victor each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, permit's survive this.' That is actually why today, prior to the complement, I did certainly not believe as tense as I would ordinarily experience, since I had secured a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the best leg that needed surgery for a torn crescent pair of months back, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second cycle as well as removed his long time opponent in organized sets. Now Djokovic is the oldest male to win the songs gold in his sport given that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one final forehand victor, Djokovic transformed towards his staff in the positions-- partaking front of his wife and also their 2 little ones-- fell his noise and also knelt on the clay. As mental as ever, he burst into tears as well as covered his face, at that point progressed and nabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the hard seconds, he offered it an extra press," Alcaraz stated via his very own splits. "It injures to drop such as this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins regardless of being determined in merely 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, however Djokovic succeeded when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament secured at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually a fascinating matchup, including some of the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the most effective right now in Alcaraz. Certainly, it can possess been actually irritating for Djokovic to locate himself once more across the net from a much younger, speedier version of himself. Possibly that's why Djokovic regularly found as well as gesticulated as well as murmured towards his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Truthfully, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was the only instant I really thought I can easily win the match," Djokovic said.It required long substitutions filled with superb ball-striking, ingenious reduce shots-- Alcaraz's often tended to be a lot more prosperous, at times so good Djokovic declined to even give pursuit-- and incredible sprinting, gliding, extending defense at each ends. They served therefore effectively that not either got recovered cost when: Djokovic conserved 8 rest points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, possibly, was actually just how cleanly both guys played, regardless of the talent of the opposition as well as stress of the occasion.The simply shame, perhaps, for the fans-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Make indisputable, this experience in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the program, repetitively breaking out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, producing an orchestral fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to place a revival, his fans began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to continue to be noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the location also came to be as quiet as a theater in between aspects, sufficient in order that play was actually delayed quickly when the sky close apprehension was punctured through a young child's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one reduce shot and also down payment it over the net for a champion, he indulged the raucous response through aiming his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both arms expenses to urge people that actually were actually standing up and also screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, packed with impressive tries as well as impressive activities. One activity lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a number of thrilling moments, including 5 rest odds for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic took care of to carry for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he so typically is actually, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system offer, but Djokovic slid just enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return victor. After pair of errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a volley champion as well as looked to face his loved ones with a first held high.Another collection, as well as yet another tiebreaker, later, as well as Djokovic had that medal that he wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem completed ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and took it to his lips for a kiss.