.PARIS-- For each of his Grand Slam championships as well as other titles, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, definitely desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last considerable achievement missing out on from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally obtained one at grow older 37, and also it matters not a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also evenly matched men's ping pong songs ultimate at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my heart, my soul, my body, my loved ones-- my every little thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Amazing struggle. Astonishing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis remarkable job already included a males's- document 24 Grand Slam prizes as well as the most weeks invested atop in the ranks by any kind of man or woman. It also presently consisted of a Summer Olympics award, from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and also he made it crystal clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Gamings. He dropped to the ultimate gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic said, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's get through this set.' That is actually why today, prior to the fit, I performed not feel as tense as I will typically feel, since I had actually gotten a medal." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the ideal knee that demanded surgery for a torn curve two months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second cycle and also removed his long time opponent in straight collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the oldest guy to gain the single people gold in his sport considering that 1908-- and also he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic loses to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, because of one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed towards his team in the stands-- partaking front of his better half and their 2 children-- fell his noise as well as knelt on the clay-based. As emotional as ever before, he wailed and covered his face, at that point progressed and also grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swung the banner." In the difficult seconds, he gave it an added push," Alcaraz said through his very own splits. "It hurts to shed similar to this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 moments in spite of being decided in simply pair of collections, was a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All England Club, but Djokovic gained when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the web site used for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually an appealing competition, including one of the very best to ever perform it in Djokovic, as well as the very best currently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could possess been annoying for Djokovic to find themself once again throughout the net from a more youthful, faster model of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently found as well as gestured as well as whispered towards his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Honestly, when the swan song looked at him, past him, that was the only moment I really assumed I can succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps loaded with exceptional ball-striking, skilled drop gos-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to be much more productive, often so good Djokovic decreased to even provide hunt-- and significant sprinting, moving, stretching defense at each ends. They offered thus well that not either acquired equalized as soon as: Djokovic conserved eight rest points, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, probably, was actually how precisely both guys played, regardless of the skill of the resistance and stress of the occasion.The simply pity, maybe, for the supporters-- and also typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest events. Create indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic as well as No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the stands entered into the program, consistently breaking out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, making an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz attempted to place a revival, his proponents started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Seat umpire Damien Dumusois periodically reminded folks to continue to be silent during the course of the action.Yet the area additionally became as silent as a theatre between aspects, good enough so that play was actually delayed briefly when the sky thick with expectancy was actually pierced through a young kid's crying.Both males played to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one reduce try and also deposit it over the internet for a victor, he indulged in the raucous response through aiming his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the go to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he swayed both upper arms overhead to promote folks who currently were standing up and also screaming.The very first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, packed with impressive shots as well as epic activities. One activity lasted 18 aspects spread over more than a lots mesmerizing minutes, consisting of five 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 therefore usually is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body offer, but Djokovic slid merely good enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield winner. After two blunders through Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery winner and also counted on encounter his loved ones with a first had high.Another set, and one more tiebreaker, later on, and Djokovic possessed that award that he desired, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished calling out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also delivered it to his lips for a caress.