.PARIS-- For all of his Grand Slam championships and other labels, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, definitely desired an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the final substantial success overlooking from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly got one at age 37, and also it does not matter a bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and also evenly matched men's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my center, my soul, my body system, my loved ones-- my every thing-- vulnerable to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic mentioned. "Fabulous struggle. Awesome battle." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis outstanding job actually included a men's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes as well as the absolute most weeks invested atop in the rankings by any type of man or woman. It likewise actually included a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was a bronze-- as well as he made it very clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was actually 0-3 because cycle at the Games. He dropped to the eventual gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, allow's get through this one.' That is actually why today, prior to the match, I carried out not believe as stressed as I would commonly experience, due to the fact that I had actually gotten a medal." In Paris, wearing a grey sleeve over the ideal knee that needed surgery for a torn lens pair of months earlier, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the second cycle and eliminated his long time competitor in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest man to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity because 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, that is 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his very first job gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic transformed toward his group in the positions-- partaking front of his wife and their pair of youngsters-- fell his noise and knelt on the clay-based. As mental as ever before, he cried and also covered his face, at that point advanced and also got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the banner." In the tough moments, he offered it an additional press," Alcaraz mentioned with his own tears. "It hurts to lose like this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 mins even with being made a decision in just 2 collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match 3 weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open title in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2014's ultimate at the All England Club, yet Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the web site used for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's competition was a fascinating match, including one of the greatest to ever perform it in Djokovic, and the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Indeed, it can have been actually frustrating for Djokovic to locate himself once again throughout the net coming from a younger, faster version of himself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic frequently searched for and gesticulated and also murmured toward his attendee box.Still, he came out on top." Honestly, when the last shot experienced him, past him, that was the only instant I actually presumed I can easily succeed the match," Djokovic said.It required long swaps full of wonderful ball-striking, skilled reduce chances-- Alcaraz's tended to be more effective, in some cases thus great Djokovic declined to even provide pursuit-- and also enormous sprinting, moving, extending self defense at both ends. They served therefore well that neither got recovered cost the moment: Djokovic saved eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, possibly, was how safely both men participated in, in spite of the ability of the resistance as well as pressure of the occasion.The simply shame, possibly, for the fans-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Create no mistake, this conflict between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions became part of the show, frequently bursting out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that often overlapped, making an orchestral fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz sought to position a return, his promoters started shouting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally helped remind individuals to stay noiseless during the action.Yet the place also came to be as peaceful as a theater between points, good enough to make sure that play was postponed temporarily when the air thick with apprehension was punctured through a young child's crying.Both guys participated in to the group. When Alcaraz raced to hit one reduce go and also down payment it over the internet for a champion, he basked in the rowdy reaction through pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic tied a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cover a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the 2nd sudden death, he swayed both arms expenses to urge individuals that already were actually standing and also screaming.The first set alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hrs, filled with epic chances and epic video games. One activity lasted 18 points spread over much more than a number of thrilling mins, featuring 5 rest opportunities for Alcaraz, before Djokovic handled to contain for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in , as he therefore frequently is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body system provide, yet Djokovic moved only enough to his left to slap a cross-court forehand profit victor. After two blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a volley champion and also turned to face his family members with a fist had high.Another collection, and also yet another sudden death, later on, and Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem ended up ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also carried it to his lips for an embrace.