.PARIS-- For each one of his Grand Slam champions as well as various other headlines, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic actually, actually yearned for an Olympic gold award for Serbia, the last substantial achievement skipping coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He finally got one at age 37, and no matter a bit how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating as well as equally matched males's ping pong songs final at the 2024 Gamings on Sunday." I put my heart, my spirit, my physical body, my family-- my every little thing-- on the line to gain Olympic gold," Djokovic stated. "Extraordinary fight. Amazing match." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent occupation actually featured a males's- record 24 Grand Slam prizes and also the best full weeks invested atop in the positions through any type of man or even female. It likewise already included a Summer months Olympics award, from 2008, however it was a bronze-- as well as he created it very clear that just had not been sufficient.Until he surpassed bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 during that cycle at the Video games. He lost to the ultimate gold victor each opportunity: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic stated, "I resembled, 'OK, let's survive this set.' That's why today, prior to the complement, I performed not think as worried as I would commonly experience, since I had safeguarded a medal." In Paris, using a grey sleeve over the correct leg that called for surgery for a torn meniscus 2 months earlier, Djokovic dealt with Nadal in the 2nd cycle as well as removed his longtime competitor in straight collections. Currently Djokovic is the oldest man to gain the songs gold in his sporting activity since 1908-- and he prevented Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from becoming the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic drops to his legs after hammering Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to gain his first profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the victory was his, because of one last forehand champion, Djokovic switched toward his team in the positions-- sitting in front of his better half and also their two little ones-- lost his noise and also knelt on the clay. As psychological as ever, he shed tears and covered his face, at that point increased and grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved the flag." In the challenging moments, he gave it an additional push," Alcaraz said via his very own splits. "It injures to drop similar to this." The final, which lasted 2 hrs, 50 minutes despite being actually chosen in merely pair of sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon championship 3 full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in in 2013's last at the All of England Club, however Djokovic won when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the site used for ping pong throughout these Olympics.Sunday's competition was actually a fascinating match, including among the greatest to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the very best presently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it can have been actually disheartening for Djokovic to find himself once more around the web from a more youthful, speedier variation of themself. Maybe that is actually why Djokovic often searched for and also gestured and also whispered towards his visitor box.Still, he prevailed." Honestly, when the last shot underwent him, past him, that was actually the only moment I actually assumed I can gain the match," Djokovic said.It called for long swaps loaded with exceptional ball-striking, skilled decrease chances-- Alcaraz's usually tended to become even more prosperous, at times therefore great Djokovic decreased to even provide chase-- and also remarkable sprinting, gliding, extending self defense at each ends. They provided therefore well that neither obtained recovered cost as soon as: Djokovic conserved 8 rest points, Alcaraz six.Most outstanding, possibly, was actually just how cleanly both guys participated in, in spite of the ability of the hostility as well as tension of the occasion.The merely pity, possibly, for the fans-- and typically, Alcaraz-- was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Grand Slam events. Make indisputable, this encounter in between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz deserved a primary final.Those in the positions entered into the program, continuously bursting out into choruses of "No-le! No-le!" or even "Car-los! Car-los!" that frequently overlapped, producing an orchestral fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz sought to mount a return, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (essentially, "Yes, you can!") while trembling their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded people to continue to be silent during the course of the action.Yet the area also ended up being as silent as a cinema in between points, good enough to make sure that play was actually put off for a while when the sky close apprehension was pierced through a young kid's crying.Both men played to the group. When Alcaraz raced to arrive at one drop go as well as down payment it over the net for a champion, he indulged in the raucous response by pointing his correct forefinger to his ear. When Djokovic entwined a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cover a 10-shot indicate lead 3-2 in the 2nd tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms overhead to encourage folks that currently were standing up as well as screaming.The first collection alone lasted greater than 1 1/2 hrs, filled with legendary tries and legendary activities. One game lasted 18 points topped greater than a number of exciting minutes, consisting of five break chances for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he so often is actually, taking the final 4 points.At 3-all, Alcaraz provided a body system offer, but Djokovic moved only sufficient to his left to smack a cross-court forehand gain champion. After pair of blunders by Alcaraz, Djokovic created a battery victor as well as turned to experience his family members along with a clenched fist held high.Another collection, as well as one more sudden death, later on, and Djokovic had that medal that he yearned for, at long last.When the Serbian national anthem finished sounding out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold as well as brought it to his lips for a caress.