.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and other labels, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really wanted an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last significant achievement missing out on from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at age 37, as well as no matter a little bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and equally matched men's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my everything-- vulnerable to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Unbelievable war. Extraordinary match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding occupation currently included a men's- record 24 Conquest prizes and also the absolute most full weeks spent atop in the rankings through any type of male or woman. It additionally currently consisted of a Summertime Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and he made it very clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 because cycle at the Video games. He shed to the resulting gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic mentioned, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's make it through this.' That is actually why today, before the fit, I did not experience as nervous as I would usually feel, considering that I had gotten an award." In Paris, using a gray sleeve over the right leg that required surgery for a torn crescent 2 months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second round as well as eliminated his long time rival in organized sets. Now Djokovic is actually the oldest man to win the singles gold in his sporting activity given that 1908-- as well as he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, thanks to one last forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his group in the positions-- being in front of his spouse and also their pair of children-- fell his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever before, he shed tears and covered his face, after that progressed and grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the flag." In the difficult instants, he offered it an extra push," Alcaraz mentioned through his personal rips. "It injures to shed like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments despite being determined in simply 2 sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to adhere to up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally defeated Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All England Nightclub, but Djokovic succeeded when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling matchup, featuring among the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the most effective currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it might have been actually annoying for Djokovic to discover themself once again all over the net coming from a more youthful, faster variation of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic regularly searched for and gesticulated and also muttered towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was actually the only moment I in fact thought I can easily gain the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long substitutions loaded with excellent ball-striking, skilled decrease gos-- Alcaraz's usually tended to be much more successful, in some cases thus really good Djokovic dropped to even offer chase-- and also remarkable sprinting, gliding, flexing protection at each ends. They provided thus well that not either received equalized once: Djokovic spared 8 break factors, Alcaraz six.Most exceptional, maybe, was actually how precisely both men participated in, in spite of the ability of the hostility as well as stress of the occasion.The merely pity, probably, for the supporters-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Produce no mistake, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the stands became part of the show, consistently bursting out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating a theatrical fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a rebound, his supporters started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois sometimes advised individuals to stay silent during the action.Yet the place also ended up being as peaceful as a theatre between factors, good enough to ensure play was actually put off temporarily when the air close apprehension was pierced through a young child's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decrease shot and also down payment it over the web for a victor, he indulged in the raucous reaction by directing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cover a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both arms cost to promote individuals that presently were actually standing and also screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with impressive shots as well as impressive video games. One video game lasted 18 factors topped much more than a number of enchanting mins, including 5 rest odds for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to carry for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore commonly is actually, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system offer, however Djokovic glided only sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand gain victor. After pair of blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic generated a battery champion and turned to encounter his loved ones with a hand hosted high.Another collection, and also another sudden death, later on, and Djokovic possessed that award that he preferred, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as brought it to his lips for a caress.