.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other headlines, for each one of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable achievement overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally received one at age 37, and also no matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and uniformly matched guys's ping pong single people last at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body, my loved ones-- my every thing-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Incredible struggle. Fabulous match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable career already included a men's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and also one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any type of male or lady. It likewise presently had a Summer Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- and also he made it very clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He lost to the ultimate gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I felt like, 'OK, let's survive this.' That is actually why today, before the match, I performed certainly not think as stressed as I would commonly believe, given that I had actually secured a medal." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the ideal knee that required surgical operation for a torn curve 2 months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd round and removed his longtime rival in organized sets. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest man to gain the singles gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his 1st profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, with the help of one final forehand winner, Djokovic switched towards his team in the positions-- partaking front of his other half as well as their pair of kids-- fell his racket and knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever before, he burst into tears and covered his face, then increased and got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic waved the flag." In the tough minutes, he offered it an additional push," Alcaraz pointed out with his personal splits. "It harms to shed similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hours, fifty mins despite being actually made a decision in just two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All England Club, but Djokovic won when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the web site utilized for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an appealing competition, featuring one of the most effective to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and also the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could have been actually annoying for Djokovic to discover themself once again around the internet from a much younger, speedier version of themself. Perhaps that is actually why Djokovic regularly looked up and gestured and murmured toward his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Frankly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was the only instant I really thought I can easily succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions loaded with excellent ball-striking, ingenious decrease shots-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be extra successful, at times so excellent Djokovic dropped to also give hunt-- as well as remarkable sprinting, sliding, flexing defense at both ends. They offered therefore properly that neither acquired recovered cost once: Djokovic spared 8 breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, maybe, was actually just how safely each males played, despite the skill of the resistance as well as pressure of the occasion.The just embarassment, probably, for the supporters-- as well as naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Create indisputable, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands entered into the series, frequently breaking out right into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, producing a sonant fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a rebound, his fans began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois periodically told folks to remain noiseless during the action.Yet the area likewise became as peaceful as a theatre between points, good enough so that play was actually put off temporarily when the air close expectancy was punctured by a little one's crying.Both males participated in to the group. When Alcaraz dashed to hit one drop chance and deposit it over the web for a champion, he basked in the rowdy reaction by directing his appropriate forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swayed both arms expenses to encourage folks who actually were standing and also screaming.The 1st collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, full of epic shots and also legendary video games. One video game lasted 18 aspects spread over greater than a number of thrilling moments, featuring 5 break opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he thus frequently is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body offer, yet Djokovic glided just enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand return champion. After 2 errors through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery winner and turned to face his family members with a fist conducted high.Another set, and an additional tiebreaker, later, as well as Djokovic possessed that award that he desired, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for a kiss.