.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hrs after his destructive reduction in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was actually already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had merely been beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his goals for a record-breaking 25th major title held off. But it was actually crystal clear he was trying to proceed as promptly as he could when he talked to media reporters at his news conference eventually that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Video Games and also United States Open are actually the 2 large targets for the remainder of the year for me actually," Djokovic pointed out. "I'm hoping I can be at my absolute best [for] those two tournaments. That's all I may state now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response ought to hardly happen as a surprise considering his virtually exceptional profession and also he is actually the speaking up for champion at the United States Open. Yet he has certainly never very possessed the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games along with merely one award-- a single people bronze in 2008. So now, pair of full weeks after his unsatisfactory surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris for what might be his ultimate Games, along with his eyes set on the the main thing that has actually eluded him throughout his historical job: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Sunday with an effective 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next off participate in familiar enemy Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in hopes of receiving one step nearer to his aspiration." [It's thus exclusive to be] portion of the oldest sports event in the record of sporting activity," Djokovic told the International Tennis Alliance in May. "Obviously gaining a gold award or gaining any kind of award for my country is actually a fantastic desire as well as yearning. It is among [my] ultimate priorities as well as targets for [this] time, there is actually clear concerning that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic have not attained in tennis.Since transforming expert in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (one of the most by any sort of player in the Open age), and also is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champion and three-time French Open champion. He is tied along with Margaret Courtroom for the most significant single people headlines in the sport's past, and also he has the best outdoors era.Djokovic has succeeded 98 job singles labels (as well as one in increases) and also has actually stored the world No. 1 position for a mixed 428 weeks-- an additional record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own initial as well as just Davis Mug label in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually contacted "the most ideal emotion I ever before had in my lifestyle as a ping pong gamer." However while he's regularly spoken about how much it implies to him to be capable to represent his country as well as how much he takes pleasure in the encounter of the Olympic Gamings, he is actually merely certainly never managed to equate his typical authority to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer as well as Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a marked difference than the best-of-five-sets made use of through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun through the draw until Nadal, the eventual gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually gained his first primary name earlier that season in Melbourne, could not conceal his exhilaration after the complement." [I am actually] quite satisfied. I mean, to gain any sort of award in the Olympics is actually a massive success for any type of professional athlete I believe," Djokovic said. "Few of the athletes get a chance to succeed a medal. But also for me, this bronze, which I gained listed below, shines like a gold because I think I've participated in pretty good tennis all event." Djokovic also participated in doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, yet the pair dropped in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champion, was actually called Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening service. He explained it as "an out-of-body knowledge" as well as a "substantial satisfaction and also obligation and respect." The competition was kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the title the year prior to, but Djokovic lost to possible gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct sets. Djokovic dropped again in the first round of multiplies, this time with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually specifically frustrating, due to the fact that he had actually won all three significant labels kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the difficult court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (as well as now a 12-time major champion) yet he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic and also Zimonjic lost in the 2nd around of doubles.But no loss stung harder than in 2021. Competing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic came in after gaining all three of the year's Slams. He got on a quest to join just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in record to obtain the "Golden Bang"-- all four significant labels and an Olympic singles gold in the very same season.But in the semifinals-- yet once more-- Djokovic had his desires slammed through ultimate gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had effortlessly taken the first collection 6-1 yet after that won merely four games in the last pair of collections. Things evened the score much worse in the bronze award suit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to handle his feelings, and also misused his racket on a number of affairs. He lost the fit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards withdrew coming from the blended increases bronze-medal fit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin eventually that exact same day, presenting a remaining shoulder personal injury. He had actually played seven matches in four days throughout pulls and it seemed it had actually all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, amazing pain and also fatigue," Djokovic said.He never had the ability to acquire his period fully back on course and lost in the final of the US Open full weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his fine-tuned goal of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was actually also [an] emotionally really requiring time frame for me in the final 5, six months," Djokovic mentioned after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Every little thing was collaborating for me below as well as type of gathering all the emotions that I have actually been by means of. Regrettably I failed to make it in the ultimate measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a significantly various placement than he was in 3 years earlier. Not merely has he as yet to gain a Slam this period, yet he is actually as yet to win a title of any sort of kind. It's his worst begin to a period since 2006. While he stated he possesses no plannings to retire, he recognizes time is actually running out. He will certainly be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the website of the French Open and the Olympic competitors, might likewise verify challenging. He harmed his knee during the French Open in June and also was forced to withdraw in advance of his quarterfinal suit. He undertook surgical procedure for a torn median lens in his right leg on June 5, in the beginning leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final previously this month, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he would leave out the grass-court event to pay attention to his rehab, and also proceed instruction on clay-based before the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All of England Nightclub a full week before the main draw began. After several productive and pain-free techniques, he participated in as well as was impressive throughout his run, showing handful of signs of pain or hindered action." If somebody informed me I would participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate 3, four weeks back, I would certainly take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic and his peers have actually had to promptly alter to the reddish clay after investing recent month on grass. The surfaces couldn't be actually much more different-- the clay-based is substantially slower than the grass-- and the way gamers carry on the courthouse is actually also. It will certainly be difficult for also those with no physical afflictions or even personal injuries. Possibly partly because of this, Djokovic is going to just be playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared exhausted and also slightly dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was not discouraged." Allow's see how actually and mentally I am actually going to experience. Ideally I can locate the appropriate ping pong due to the fact that I am actually going to need all I have as well as additional to head to the ultimate of the Olympic Gamings.".