.PARIS-- For every one of his Conquest champions and also other headlines, for each of his opportunity at No. 1, Novak Djokovic definitely, definitely desired an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the final significant accomplishment missing coming from his glittering ru00e9sumu00e9.He lastly obtained one at age 37, as well as no matter a little bit for how long it took.Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3 ), 7-6 (2) in a fascinating and also uniformly matched men's ping pong single people last at the 2024 Games on Sunday." I place my center, my soul, my body, my family members-- my whatever-- on the line to succeed Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Awesome fight. Fabulous battle." Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis excellent occupation already featured a males's- file 24 Conquest prizes as well as one of the most full weeks devoted atop in the ranks by any man or girl. It also presently included a Summertime Olympics award, coming from 2008, but it was actually a bronze-- and also he created it crystal clear that just wasn't sufficient.Until he got past bronze champion Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Video games. He lost to the possible gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at Greater London in 2012, and also Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 3 years ago.Before experiencing Musetti, Djokovic claimed, "I was like, 'OK, let's make it through this set.' That's why today, before the fit, I did certainly not believe as worried as I would generally experience, given that I had protected an award." In Paris, putting on a gray sleeve over the correct knee that called for surgical treatment for a torn meniscus pair of months earlier, Djokovic experienced Nadal in the 2nd round as well as removed his longtime competitor in organized sets. Currently Djokovic is actually the earliest guy to gain the singles gold in his sport since 1908-- and also he avoided Spain's Alcaraz, who is actually 21, from ending up being the youngest.Serbia's Novak Djokovic falls to his legs after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz to win his first profession gold medal. Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhen the triumph was his, because of one last forehand winner, Djokovic transformed toward his crew in the stands-- sitting in front of his partner and also their pair of children-- dropped his racket as well as knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever before, he burst into tears and covered his face, then progressed and grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.After caress in the positions, Djokovic waved the flag." In the difficult seconds, he gave it an extra push," Alcaraz claimed with his very own tears. "It hurts to shed like this." The ultimate, which lasted 2 hours, fifty minutes regardless of being actually decided in just two sets, was actually a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three full weeks ago that Alcaraz won to adhere to up his French Open label in June.Alcaraz additionally beat Djokovic in last year's last at the All of England Nightclub, however Djokovic gained when they satisfied in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the yearly clay-court competition kept at Roland Garros, the internet site utilized for ping pong during the course of these Olympics.Sunday's contest was an appealing match, including one of the most effective to ever before do it in Djokovic, as well as the greatest currently in Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, it can have been actually irritating for Djokovic to find himself once again all over the internet coming from a younger, faster variation of themself. Perhaps that's why Djokovic regularly searched for and gestured and murmured toward his guest box.Still, he prevailed." In all honesty, when the last shot looked at him, past him, that was the only second I in fact assumed I may succeed the suit," Djokovic said.It needed long swaps loaded with superb ball-striking, deft decrease tries-- Alcaraz's often tended to be a lot more productive, at times so excellent Djokovic declined to even give hunt-- and enormous sprinting, gliding, extending protection at each ends. They served thus well that neither acquired recovered cost when: Djokovic conserved 8 rest aspects, Alcaraz six.Most impressive, maybe, was actually just how cleanly both males participated in, in spite of the skill of the resistance and also tension of the occasion.The only embarassment, possibly, for the supporters-- as well as normally, Alcaraz-- was actually that the Olympics utilizes a best-of-three-set style, as opposed to the best-of-five at Conquest tournaments. Make no mistake, this meet between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and also No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.Those in the positions entered into the show, continuously bursting out right into carolers of "No-le! No-le!" or "Car-los! Car-los!" that commonly overlapped, developing a sonant fugue. In the 2nd collection, as Alcaraz tried to place a comeback, his fans started chanting, "Si, se puede!" (practically, "Yes, you can!") while drinking their red-and-yellow flags. Office chair moderator Damien Dumusois periodically reminded people to continue to be noiseless during the course of the action.Yet the place likewise became as quiet as a cinema between factors, enough to ensure that play was delayed for a while when the sky close apprehension was actually punctured by a young child's crying.Both males participated in to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one drop try and deposit it over the internet for a champion, he indulged the rowdy reaction through pointing his correct index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand champion on the run to cap a 10-shot lead to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both upper arms overhead to promote individuals who already were actually standing and screaming.The initial collection alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hrs, loaded with impressive tries and legendary video games. One activity lasted 18 points spread over greater than a lots exciting mins, including 5 rest chances for Alcaraz, just before Djokovic took care of to contain for a 5-4 top. In the sudden death, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he so usually is, taking the final four points.At 3-all, Alcaraz supplied a physical body serve, however Djokovic glided simply sufficient to his left to slap a cross-court forehand yield winner. After 2 oversights through Alcaraz, Djokovic created a volley winner and also looked to encounter his loved ones along with a hand had high.Another collection, and also yet another tiebreaker, later on, and Djokovic possessed that medal that he yearned for, at lengthy last.When the Serbian nationwide anthem ended up sounding out at Court of law Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic grabbed that gold as well as took it to his lips for a caress.