.PARIS-- For all of his Conquest championships as well as various other labels, for all of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, definitely preferred an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final considerable achievement skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at age 37, as well as no matter a bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling as well as equally matched men's ping pong songs ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I put my heart, my soul, my body, my household-- my every thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Unbelievable battle. Unbelievable fight." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding occupation currently featured a males's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the most weeks spent atop in the ranks by any sort of male or even girl. It likewise already contained a Summertime Olympics award, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- as well as he produced it very clear that merely wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Gamings. He lost to the ultimate gold champion each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's get through this one.' That is actually why today, just before the complement, I carried out not experience as concerned as I would typically believe, since I had actually secured an award." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the ideal knee that demanded surgical operation for a torn crescent two months ago, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the second cycle and eliminated his long time competitor in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is the earliest guy to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity due to the fact that 1908-- and also he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his very first career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, with the help of one last forehand winner, Djokovic transformed toward his team in the stands-- sitting in front of his wife as well as their pair of youngsters-- dropped his noise and also knelt on the clay-based. As psychological as ever before, he cried and also covered his face, at that point increased as well as ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the difficult minutes, he offered it an additional push," Alcaraz pointed out by means of his very own rips. "It injures to shed similar to this." The last, which lasted 2 hours, fifty moments in spite of being decided in simply pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to observe up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise beat Djokovic in last year's ultimate at the All England Club, however Djokovic gained when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling competition, featuring some of the very best to ever before do it in Djokovic, and also the very best presently in Alcaraz. Indeed, it can have been actually discouraging for Djokovic to discover himself once more throughout the net from a much younger, faster model of himself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic regularly sought out and gesticulated and muttered toward his attendee box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was the only second I actually presumed I can win the match," Djokovic said.It needed long exchanges full of excellent ball-striking, deft decrease chances-- Alcaraz's often tended to become more prosperous, in some cases therefore good Djokovic dropped to even offer pursuit-- as well as incredible sprinting, sliding, flexing protection at each ends. They offered therefore well that not either obtained equalized as soon as: Djokovic saved eight rest points, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, probably, was just how precisely each men played, in spite of the skill of the opposition as well as tension of the occasion.The only shame, perhaps, for the supporters-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Help make no mistake, this conflict in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a primary final.Those in the stands entered into the show, repeatedly breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that typically overlapped, creating a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a resurgence, his proponents started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically advised folks to stay quiet during the action.Yet the location additionally came to be as peaceful as a theatre in between factors, good enough to ensure that play was put off temporarily when the air close anticipation was actually pierced by a kid's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one reduce chance and also down payment it over the net for a victor, he indulged in the rowdy response by directing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to top a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both arms overhead to motivate folks that actually were actually standing up as well as screaming.The first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, full of epic tries and also impressive video games. One video game lasted 18 aspects topped much more than a dozen magical minutes, featuring five break opportunities for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he so often is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body provide, however Djokovic slid only enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain victor. After two errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley victor and also relied on encounter his loved ones with a hand held high.Another set, and an additional tiebreaker, eventually, and also Djokovic had that medal that he desired, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem completed calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as took it to his lips for a caress.