.PARIS-- For all of his Conquest champions as well as various other headlines, for every one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, actually wished an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last significant success missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly acquired one at age 37, as well as never mind a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing and uniformly matched males's ping pong singles last at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I put my soul, my spirit, my body system, my family-- my everything-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Fabulous battle. Unbelievable battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis impressive occupation currently included a males's- file 24 Grand Slam prizes as well as the best full weeks spent atop in the rankings by any sort of man or lady. It additionally currently consisted of a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it clear that simply had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Games. He shed to the eventual gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before dealing with Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I felt like, 'OK, permit's survive this.' That's why today, prior to the fit, I performed not believe as nervous as I would commonly experience, given that I had actually protected a medal." In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the appropriate leg that required surgical operation for a torn crescent 2 months earlier, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second round and also removed his longtime rival in organized sets. Now Djokovic is the earliest male to win the songs gold in his sporting activity considering that 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic goes down to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his initial career gold award. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one final forehand champion, Djokovic switched toward his crew in the positions-- sitting in front of his partner as well as their 2 children-- lost his noise and knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever before, he shed tears and covered his face, after that advanced and also got a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the positions, Djokovic swayed the banner." In the difficult minutes, he gave it an additional press," Alcaraz said by means of his personal tears. "It harms to drop similar to this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty moments even with being actually chosen in just two collections, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2015's ultimate at the All of England Nightclub, yet Djokovic succeeded when they fulfilled in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament kept at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating match, including one of the greatest to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the very best at the moment in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it could have been actually irritating for Djokovic to locate themself once again across the internet from a much younger, faster variation of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic regularly sought out and also gestured as well as sputtered toward his visitor box.Still, he came out on top." Frankly, when the swan song experienced him, past him, that was the only minute I actually thought I can easily win the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long exchanges loaded with superb ball-striking, nimble drop shots-- Alcaraz's tended to become a lot more productive, at times thus great Djokovic decreased to also provide chase-- and enormous sprinting, gliding, extending defense at each ends. They served so effectively that not either acquired equalized when: Djokovic spared eight breather aspects, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, probably, was how easily each guys played, regardless of the talent of the resistance and tension of the occasion.The just shame, maybe, for the followers-- and naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Create no mistake, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the stands became part of the program, frequently bursting out in to carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that usually overlapped, producing an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz tried to install a comeback, his advocates began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (basically, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Seat peacemaker Damien Dumusois occasionally told individuals to stay quiet during the action.Yet the place likewise ended up being as peaceful as a theatre between aspects, enough in order that play was postponed briefly when the sky close expectancy was actually punctured by a young kid's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz competed to hit one reduce go as well as down payment it over the internet for a victor, he indulged the rowdy response by aiming his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand champion on the go to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he swayed both arms overhead to promote individuals who currently were standing up and screaming.The very first collection alone lasted much more than 1 1/2 hours, filled with legendary chances and also epic video games. One game lasted 18 factors topped more than a lots magical moments, featuring five break opportunities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic dealt with to hold for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he so often is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a physical body serve, but Djokovic slid just sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand yield winner. After two oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a battery winner and also counted on face his family members with a clenched fist had high.Another set, as well as another sudden death, eventually, and also Djokovic had that award that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem finished calling out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as carried it to his lips for an embrace.