.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest championships and also other headlines, for each of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, really preferred an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last considerable accomplishment skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally acquired one at grow older 37, as well as it does not matter a little how much time it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in an appealing as well as equally matched men's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Video games on Sunday." I place my soul, my spirit, my physical body, my family members-- my every thing-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic claimed. "Extraordinary battle. Awesome match." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis exceptional occupation presently included a guys's- record 24 Conquest trophies and the best full weeks devoted atop in the ranks through any type of male or woman. It likewise actually contained a Summer Olympics medal, coming from 2008, yet it was actually a bronze-- as well as he created it crystal clear that merely had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that cycle at the Video games. He dropped to the possible gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, as well as Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before facing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I felt like, 'OK, allow's get through this.' That's why today, prior to the suit, I did certainly not experience as nervous as I will commonly experience, because I had actually secured an award." In Paris, putting on a grey sleeve over the right knee that demanded surgery for a torn lens two months ago, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd round and eliminated his long time rival in organized collections. Right now Djokovic is actually the earliest man to gain the songs gold in his sport considering that 1908-- as well as he protected against Spain's Alcaraz, that is actually 21, coming from coming to be the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his knees after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first career gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, due to one final forehand victor, Djokovic turned toward his crew in the stands-- being in front of his better half as well as their pair of little ones-- fell his noise and knelt on the clay. As mental as ever, he shed tears and covered his face, then progressed and got hold of a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic waved the banner." In the difficult instants, he provided it an extra push," Alcaraz mentioned by means of his very own rips. "It injures to drop like this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, fifty minutes even with being determined in only pair of sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz gained to follow up his French Open headline in June.Alcaraz likewise defeated Djokovic in in 2015's last at the All England Club, yet Djokovic gained when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court event kept at Roland Garros, the website used for tennis during these Olympics.Sunday's contest was actually an enthralling match, including one of the greatest to ever perform it in Djokovic, and the greatest at the moment in Alcaraz. Definitely, it can have been actually discouraging for Djokovic to locate himself once again across the internet coming from a more youthful, faster version of himself. Possibly that is actually why Djokovic frequently searched for as well as gestured and also muttered towards his guest box.Still, he came out on top." Truthfully, when the swan song underwent him, past him, that was actually the only second I in fact presumed I can easily gain the match," Djokovic said.It demanded long swaps loaded with superb ball-striking, quick reduce gos-- Alcaraz's had a tendency to become a lot more effective, sometimes thus really good Djokovic decreased to even provide chase-- and significant sprinting, sliding, stretching self defense at both ends. They served so properly that neither acquired equalized when: Djokovic spared 8 rest factors, Alcaraz six.Most remarkable, perhaps, was exactly how precisely each men participated in, in spite of the skill of the hostility and also pressure of the occasion.The only embarassment, probably, for the supporters-- and normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, instead of the best-of-five at Conquest competitions. Help make no mistake, this meet in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the positions became part of the series, frequently breaking out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the second collection, as Alcaraz sought to install a revival, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow banners. Chair peacemaker Damien Dumusois periodically advised individuals to stay quiet throughout the action.Yet the area also became as peaceful as a theater in between aspects, sufficient to make sure that play was put off temporarily when the sky close anticipation was actually pierced by a child's crying.Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to get to one reduce chance and also deposit it over the net for a champion, he indulged the raucous response by pointing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he swung both upper arms cost to promote folks that actually were standing up and also screaming.The first set alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hours, filled with epic gos and epic activities. One activity lasted 18 aspects topped greater than a loads magical mins, featuring five rest chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic dealt with to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in do or die time, as he thus frequently is actually, taking the last four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a body system offer, yet Djokovic moved merely enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return victor. After pair of oversights by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley winner and also looked to encounter his loved ones with a clenched fist had high.Another set, as well as an additional tiebreaker, later on, and also Djokovic had that award that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem completed sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold and also brought it to his lips for a caress.