.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and various other labels, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, actually desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final considerable accomplishment missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He eventually received one at age 37, and it doesn't matter a little bit the length of time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and uniformly matched men's ping pong songs last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my soul, my body, my family-- my every thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Awesome war. Awesome battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding occupation currently featured a guys's- file 24 Grand Slam trophies and also the most weeks devoted atop in the positions by any sort of man or even woman. It also already contained a Summer season Olympics award, coming from 2008, however it was actually a bronze-- and he created it clear that simply wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because cycle at the Gamings. He dropped to the resulting gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic pointed out, "I felt like, 'OK, permit's survive this.' That is actually why today, before the fit, I did not experience as stressed as I would typically think, since I had gotten a medal." In Paris, using a gray sleeve over the appropriate leg that needed surgical operation for a torn meniscus two months earlier, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the second round as well as eliminated his long time competitor in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is the earliest male to gain the songs gold in his sport due to the fact that 1908-- and also he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st job gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the success was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic transformed toward his group in the positions-- partaking front of his better half as well as their 2 little ones-- lost his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he sobbed as well as covered his face, at that point increased as well as ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the tough minutes, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz mentioned by means of his own splits. "It injures to drop similar to this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins in spite of being decided in simply two sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship three weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to comply with up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2013's final at the All of England Nightclub, but Djokovic won when they complied with in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition held at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was an appealing match, including some of the greatest to ever before do it in Djokovic, and the very best currently in Alcaraz. Certainly, it could have been annoying for Djokovic to find himself once again all over the net coming from a much younger, speedier version of himself. Maybe that's why Djokovic frequently found as well as gesticulated as well as whispered towards his guest box.Still, he prevailed." Frankly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was actually the only second I really presumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long exchanges full of wonderful ball-striking, deft decline tries-- Alcaraz's tended to be even more productive, sometimes so great Djokovic declined to also offer hunt-- and also remarkable sprinting, moving, stretching self defense at both ends. They served thus effectively that not either got equalized as soon as: Djokovic conserved 8 breather factors, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, possibly, was actually how easily each males played, even with the ability of the opposition as well as stress of the occasion.The only embarassment, possibly, for the followers-- as well as typically, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Make indisputable, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a significant final.Those in the stands entered into the show, frequently bursting out in to choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, developing an orchestral fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a resurgence, his proponents began chanting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded folks to remain noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the area additionally ended up being as peaceful as a theater in between factors, good enough so that play was delayed briefly when the sky thick with expectancy was pierced through a child's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to arrive at one decline chance and also down payment it over the internet for a champion, he indulged in the rowdy reaction by aiming his best index finger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to top a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swung both arms expenses to encourage people that actually were actually standing up and also screaming.The first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with legendary tries as well as epic video games. One video game lasted 18 points topped greater than a lots magical mins, including 5 break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in crunch time, as he so typically is actually, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a physical body provide, but Djokovic moved just good enough to his left to punch a cross-court forehand profit victor. After two blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a battery champion and counted on face his family members with a clenched fist had high.Another set, and also yet another sudden death, eventually, and Djokovic had that medal that he really wanted, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem completed ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also delivered it to his lips for a kiss.