.PARIS-- For every one of his Grand Slam championships as well as various other headlines, for each one of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic truly, truly desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable accomplishment missing from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He ultimately received one at age 37, and also it doesn't matter a little bit how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as evenly matched males's ping pong single people ultimate at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my soul, my soul, my body, my family members-- my every thing-- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic pointed out. "Incredible struggle. Extraordinary match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent job currently featured a men's- record 24 Grand Slam trophies as well as the most weeks spent atop in the rankings through any guy or even woman. It also currently included a Summer Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was a bronze-- and he created it crystal clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that round at the Games. He lost to the possible gold champion each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.Before encountering Musetti, Djokovic said, "I resembled, 'OK, permit's survive this one.' That is actually why today, before the complement, I did certainly not feel as concerned as I would commonly believe, considering that I had actually gotten an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the correct leg that called for surgical procedure for a torn crescent 2 months back, Djokovic encountered Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as eliminated his long time opponent in straight collections. Now Djokovic is the earliest guy to win the songs gold in his sporting activity because 1908-- and he stopped Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, coming from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his 1st occupation gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, thanks to one last forehand victor, Djokovic switched toward his group in the stands-- sitting in front of his partner as well as their two kids-- fell his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever, he wailed and covered his face, then rose and also ordered a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After squeezes in the stands, Djokovic swung the banner." In the tough instants, he offered it an additional press," Alcaraz pointed out through his own splits. "It injures to lose enjoy this." The last, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty mins despite being actually decided in simply 2 sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz succeeded to adhere to up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in in 2014's last at the All England Nightclub, however Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court event secured at Roland Garros, the site utilized for ping pong in the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an enthralling matchup, featuring one of the most ideal to ever before perform it in Djokovic, and the most effective at the moment in Alcaraz. Definitely, it could possibly possess been actually frustrating for Djokovic to find himself once more throughout the net from a more youthful, speedier model of themself. Maybe that's why Djokovic often looked up as well as gestured and also sputtered toward his guest box.Still, he triumphed." Frankly, when the swan song went through him, past him, that was actually the only second I really thought I can gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps filled with fantastic ball-striking, skilled decline shots-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become a lot more productive, sometimes thus great Djokovic declined to also offer hunt-- and enormous sprinting, moving, stretching protection at both ends. They served therefore well that neither obtained broken even when: Djokovic spared eight breather points, Alcaraz six.Most amazing, perhaps, was how safely both males played, in spite of the skill of the opposition and stress of the occasion.The just pity, maybe, for the fans-- and also naturally, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics makes use of a best-of-three-set layout, rather than the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Create indisputable, this experience between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the stands entered into the series, continuously breaking out into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, generating a theatrical fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a resurgence, his followers began shouting, "Si, se puede!" (generally, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow banners. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally helped remind individuals to remain quiet during the action.Yet the area also came to be as quiet as a cinema between points, good enough so that play was actually postponed temporarily when the air close apprehension was actually pierced by a young kid's crying.Both males played to the group. When Alcaraz competed to get to one drop shot as well as deposit it over the net for a winner, he basked in the rowdy reaction by pointing his best forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand victor on the go to cap a 10-shot suggest lead 3-2 in the second sudden death, he waved both arms overhead to promote folks who actually were standing as well as screaming.The very first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, packed with legendary chances and also legendary video games. One video game lasted 18 factors spread over much more than a lots mesmerizing mins, consisting of 5 rest possibilities for Alcaraz, prior to Djokovic managed to accommodate for a 5-4 top. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic transcended in do or die time, as he thus typically is, taking the last 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system serve, however Djokovic moved just enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return winner. After two mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic made a volley champion and also relied on experience his household with a hand had high.Another set, and also yet another tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic possessed that award that he wanted, at lengthy last.When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and also brought it to his lips for an embrace.