.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hours after his destructive reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was actually actually laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had only been defeated through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his goals for a record-breaking 25th primary name held off. Yet it was actually very clear he was trying to proceed as promptly as he could when he spoke with press reporters at his news conference eventually that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Video Games and US Open are actually the two significant objectives for the rest of the year for me actually," Djokovic stated. "I'm hoping I can be at my finest [for] those 2 events. That's all I can mention at the moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response should hardly happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his essentially unrivaled career and also he's the speaking up for champion at the US Open. Yet he possesses never ever quite had the same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games with just one award-- a songs bronze in 2008. Thus now, two full weeks after his unsatisfying surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore could be his ultimate Video games, with his eyes bented on the the main thing that has outruned him throughout his historical occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Saturday with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will next off play familiar adversary Rafael Nadal in the second round in chances of getting one step better to his aspiration." [It is actually thus special to be] portion of the earliest sporting activities activity in the background of sport," Djokovic told the International Ping pong Alliance in May. "Obviously gaining a gold award or winning any type of medal for my nation is a terrific want as well as dream. It is among [my] greatest priorities and targets for [this] period, there is clear concerning that." THERE'S LITTLE ELSE Djokovic hasn't obtained in tennis.Since switching qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually won the Australian Open 10 times (one of the most by any player outdoors period), as well as is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champion and three-time French Open champion. He is tied with Margaret Courthouse for the most major singles headlines in the sport's background, as well as he has the best in the Open era.Djokovic has actually won 98 career singles headlines (as well as one in multiplies) and has held the world No. 1 ranking for a consolidated 428 weeks-- yet another history. Djokovic even led Serbia to its own very first and also simply Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later called "the greatest sensation I ever invited my life as a ping pong gamer." But while he is actually constantly referred to how much it means to him to be able to embody his country as well as just how much he appreciates the encounter of the Olympic Gamings, he's merely certainly never managed to equate his normal prominence to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his sole Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a significant distinction than the best-of-five-sets made use of through men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun by means of the draw until Nadal, the resulting gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic beat James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had won his very first primary name previously that season in Melbourne, could not conceal his exhilaration after the fit." [I am actually] extremely happy. I indicate, to succeed any sort of award in the Olympics is actually a significant success for any professional athlete I assume," Djokovic pointed out. "Few of the professional athletes get an opportunity to gain an award. However, for me, this bronze, which I gained here, radiates like a gold considering that I presume I have actually participated in respectable tennis all competition." Djokovic likewise played multiplies together with Nenad Zimonjic, but both shed in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Slam champion, was actually called Serbia's flag-bearer for the position event. He defined it as "an out-of-body knowledge" and also a "large delight and also responsibility as well as tribute." The competitors was kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the label the year before, but Djokovic dropped to eventual gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic shed once again in the first round of multiplies, this time along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually particularly irritating, given that he had actually gained all three major titles held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the challenging court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (as well as right now a 12-time significant champ) yet he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic dropped in the second sphere of doubles.But no loss stung harder than in 2021. Competing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic got here after gaining all 3 of the year's Bangs. He got on a mission to participate in simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in past history to achieve the "Golden Slam"-- all four significant titles as well as an Olympic songs gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his goals shattered by eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually quickly taken the 1st collection 6-1 yet at that point succeeded simply 4 video games in the last pair of collections. Things got even worse in the bronze award suit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to control his emotions, and abused his racket on several events. He shed the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that took out from the blended increases bronze-medal fit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later that exact same day, pointing out a left shoulder trauma. He had participated in seven fits in 4 days throughout attracts as well as it appeared it had all caught up to him." I participated in under medicines, extraordinary discomfort and exhaustion," Djokovic said.He never managed to receive his season entirely back on course and lost in the last of the United States Open full weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his altered target of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was likewise [an] psychologically really demanding period for me in the final 5, six months," Djokovic stated after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Everything was coming together for me below and kind of building up all the feelings that I have actually been by means of. Sadly I really did not make it in the last step." DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a radically different position than he was in 3 years back. Not simply possesses he yet to succeed a Bang this season, but he's yet to win a headline of any kind. It's his worst beginning to a period since 2006. While he stated he possesses no plans to resign, he knows opportunity is actually running out. He will definitely be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open and also the Olympic competition, could possibly likewise prove tough. He harmed his leg during the French Open in June and also was forced to withdraw before his quarterfinal match. He went through surgical operation for a torn median meniscus in his correct knee on June 5, originally leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the last earlier this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany hypothesized he would certainly skip the grass-court competition to pay attention to his rehabilitation, and continue instruction on clay before the Olympics. Yet Djokovic reached the All England Nightclub a full week prior to the major draw began. After a number of effective and also pain-free strategies, he played as well as went over throughout his run, showing handful of indications of soreness or even obstructed movement." If an individual informed me I will play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks back, I would take it for sure," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have needed to rapidly alter to the reddish clay after devoting recent month on lawn. The surfaces couldn't be actually a lot more various-- the clay is actually significantly slower than the yard-- and the means players move on the courthouse is too. It will be tricky for even those without physical conditions or even personal injuries. Probably partially due to this, Djokovic is going to just be playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed to be tired as well as slightly dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not discouraged." Permit's observe how literally and mentally I'm mosting likely to experience. With any luck I can easily locate the ideal tennis since I am actually heading to require all I have and also even more to head to the final of the Olympic Gamings.".