.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hrs after his terrible reduction in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually simply been defeated by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th major name delayed. But it was actually crystal clear he was trying to proceed as quickly as he might when he talked to press reporters at his news conference eventually that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Games and also United States Open are the 2 huge objectives for the rest of the year for me actually," Djokovic claimed. "I'm wishing I could be at my best [for] those two events. That's all I may state at the moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response need to rarely come as an unpleasant surprise considering his virtually unmatched profession and also he's the standing up for champ at the United States Open. Yet he has never pretty possessed the exact same results at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Gamings along with just one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. So today, two full weeks after his frustrating appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris of what may be his ultimate Video games, along with his eyes bented on the the main thing that has thwarted him throughout his historical job: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Saturday along with an effective 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will next off participate in familiar opponent Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in hopes of acquiring one step nearer to his aspiration." [It is actually thus exclusive to be] aspect of the oldest sports event in the history of sporting activity," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Alliance in May. "Obviously gaining a gold award or gaining any kind of award for my nation is actually a great desire and dream. It is among [my] biggest top priorities and also targets for [this] period, there is actually clear regarding that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic hasn't attained in tennis.Since turning expert in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the best through any type of gamer outdoors time), and is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champ and also three-time French Open champ. He is matched along with Margaret Court for the most major single people headlines in the sporting activity's background, as well as he has the most outdoors era.Djokovic has gained 98 career singles headlines (as well as one in multiplies) and has actually stored the globe No. 1 ranking for a mixed 428 weeks-- yet another record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own initial as well as just Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually phoned "the most ideal feeling I ever before had in my lifestyle as a tennis gamer." But while he's always mentioned just how much it means to him to become capable to exemplify his nation and also how much he appreciates the experience of the Olympic Games, he is actually just never been able to convert his common authority to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a marked distinction than the best-of-five-sets used through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled through the draw up until Nadal, the ultimate gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award suit, Djokovic bested James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had actually won his very first major name previously that period in Melbourne, couldn't conceal his excitement after the match." [I'm] very happy. I imply, to win any kind of medal in the Olympics is actually a huge success for any type of professional athlete I think," Djokovic pointed out. "Few of the sportsmens get an odds to gain an award. But also for me, this bronze, which I won listed here, radiates like a gold considering that I presume I have actually played decent ping pong all event." Djokovic also participated in increases along with Nenad Zimonjic, yet both dropped in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Slam champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position event. He described it as "an out-of-body experience" and also a "massive delight and also obligation and also honor." The competitors was kept at Wimbledon, where he had succeeded the headline the year just before, however Djokovic dropped to resulting gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct collections. Djokovic dropped once more in the preliminary of increases, this time around with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was especially frustrating, due to the fact that he had actually won all 3 primary headlines kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the hard court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the front runner (as well as right now a 12-time primary champion) however he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic shed in the second sphere of doubles.But no reduction hurt tougher than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic showed up after succeeding all 3 of the year's Slams. He performed a quest to participate in just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis gamers in history to obtain the "Golden Slam"-- all four primary titles and also an Olympic songs gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- yet once more-- Djokovic had his goals shattered by resulting gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually easily taken the very first set 6-1 yet then succeeded merely four activities in the final 2 sets. Points evened the score much worse in the bronze award complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to manage his emotions, and abused his racket on numerous affairs. He lost the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards took out from the mixed multiplies bronze-medal complement (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later on that same time, pointing out a nigh side shoulder trauma. He had participated in 7 matches in 4 times across pulls as well as it appeared it had all caught up to him." I played under medications, amazing ache and fatigue," Djokovic said.He certainly never managed to acquire his time fully back on course and lost in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, combating his modified objective of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was also [an] emotionally quite asking for duration for me in the final 5, six months," Djokovic claimed after the reduction. "Bangs as well as Olympics ... Every little thing was integrating for me listed here as well as sort of building up all the emotions that I've been actually via. Sadly I failed to create it in the ultimate measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a substantially different setting than he resided in 3 years back. Certainly not simply possesses he yet to gain a Bang this period, yet he's yet to win a title of any kind. It's his worst begin to a time considering that 2006. While he said he has no programs to resign, he knows time is ending. He will certainly be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open as well as the Olympic competitors, might also verify tough. He harmed his leg in the course of the French Open in June as well as was actually forced to take out before his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgical treatment for a torn medial curve in his correct knee on June 5, in the beginning leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany speculated he would leave out the grass-court competition to pay attention to his rehabilitation, and continue training on clay in advance of the Olympics. However Djokovic reached the All of England Club a full week prior to the main draw began. After many effective and pain-free techniques, he played and also went over throughout his run, revealing couple of indicators of distress or hindered motion." If someone told me I will participate in [in the] Wimbledon last 3, 4 weeks back, I would certainly take it for sure," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have actually must quickly alter to the red clay-based after spending recent month on turf. The areas couldn't be much more various-- the clay-based is considerably slower than the grass-- and the means gamers carry on the courtroom is actually too. It will definitely be challenging for also those without physical afflictions or even injuries. Maybe in part because of this, Djokovic will only be playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed worn out and also a little dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was certainly not hindered." Let's observe how actually as well as mentally I am actually going to feel. Perhaps I can easily locate the ideal ping pong because I'm going to need all I possess and also more to head to the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.".