.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hrs after his terrible reduction in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was currently laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had just been actually defeated through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his dreams for a record-breaking 25th significant title delayed. But it was clear he was attempting to proceed as swiftly as he might when he spoke to press reporters at his news conference eventually that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Gamings as well as United States Open are actually the two significant targets for the rest of the year for me definitely," Djokovic claimed. "I'm wishing I may be at my absolute best [for] those pair of competitions. That's all I may claim at the moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer should barely come as a shock considering his basically exceptional job and that he is actually the standing up for champion at the US Open. However he possesses never ever pretty possessed the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games along with only one medal-- a singles bronze in 2008. Therefore right now, 2 weeks after his frustrating coating at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore might be his final Video games, with his eyes set on the one point that has shunned him throughout his historical profession: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Saturday with an effective 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will next off participate in acquainted enemy Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in hopes of acquiring one step better to his goal." [It's therefore special to become] part of the oldest sports activity in the past history of sport," Djokovic told the International Ping pong Federation in May. "Naturally winning a gold award or even gaining any sort of medal for my country is a wonderful desire as well as wish. It is just one of [my] ultimate concerns and objectives for [this] time, there is no secret regarding that." THERE is actually LITTLE ELSE Djokovic have not obtained in tennis.Since transforming specialist in 2003, Djokovic has actually succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the most through any kind of gamer in the Open era), as well as is a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time United States Open champion as well as three-time French Open champion. He is tied along with Margaret Court for the very most primary singles headlines in the sport's background, and also he possesses the best in the Open era.Djokovic has won 98 job singles headlines (as well as one in doubles) and has kept the planet No. 1 ranking for a bundled 428 weeks-- another history. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own 1st as well as simply Davis Mug title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later on got in touch with "the very best emotion I ever before had in my life as a ping pong player." However while he is actually consistently referred to just how much it implies to him to become capable to embody his country and also how much he delights in the take in of the Olympic Gamings, he's simply never managed to equate his common authority to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic gained the bronze in 2008-- his single Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a noticeable variation than the best-of-five-sets used by men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun by means of the draw until Nadal, the resulting gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic topped James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually gained his initial significant name previously that period in Melbourne, could not conceal his pleasure after the fit." [I am actually] very delighted. I indicate, to succeed any kind of award in the Olympics is a massive achievement for any professional athlete I think," Djokovic claimed. "Not many of the athletes get a possibility to succeed a medal. But for me, this bronze, which I gained below, beams like a gold considering that I presume I've played pretty good tennis all competition." Djokovic also played increases together with Nenad Zimonjic, but both shed in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Slam champ, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening service. He described it as "an out-of-body knowledge" and a "big pleasure and duty as well as tribute." The competitors was secured at Wimbledon, where he had gained the title the year prior to, yet Djokovic shed to eventual gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct collections. Djokovic dropped again in the first round of doubles, this time around with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually especially discouraging, due to the fact that he had actually succeeded all 3 primary titles held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the difficult court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (and also right now a 12-time primary champ) however he was stunned by Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic and also Zimonjic shed in the second round of doubles.But no loss hurt more challenging than in 2021. Competing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Gamings, Djokovic got here after gaining all three of the year's Slams. He got on a journey to join simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in past history to accomplish the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 significant headlines and also an Olympic singles gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his desires shattered by resulting gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had actually simply taken the first set 6-1 yet then succeeded merely four video games in the final two collections. Traits got back at much worse in the bronze medal fit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to manage his feelings, and also abused his racket on various occasions. He shed the match 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that removed from the blended increases bronze-medal suit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later that same day, mentioning a left shoulder injury. He had actually played seven complements in four times across pulls as well as it seemed it had all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, extraordinary discomfort and fatigue," Djokovic said.He never ever had the ability to receive his season fully back on the right track and dropped in the ultimate of the United States Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his adjusted target of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was also [an] emotionally quite demanding time frame for me in the final five, 6 months," Djokovic pointed out after the loss. "Bangs as well as Olympics ... Everything was converging for me listed here and also type of gathering all the feelings that I've been by means of. However I didn't create it in the ultimate action." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a substantially various placement than he remained in 3 years ago. Certainly not simply possesses he yet to win a Bang this time, however he is actually as yet to succeed a label of any sort of kind. It's his worst beginning to a time since 2006. While he said he possesses no strategies to resign, he understands opportunity is actually ending. He will definitely be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the site of the French Open and also the Olympic competition, could possibly additionally prove challenging. He wounded his leg in the course of the French Open in June and also was actually forced to withdraw before his quarterfinal suit. He undertook surgical operation for a torn median crescent in his ideal knee on June 5, at first leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany guessed he will pass up the grass-court competition to concentrate on his treatment, as well as continue training on clay-based before the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All England Nightclub a week before the principal draw started. After a number of prosperous and also pain-free methods, he participated in as well as was impressive throughout his operate, revealing few indications of distress or even hampered activity." If someone informed me I would certainly participate in [in the] Wimbledon final three, four weeks ago, I would certainly take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have must swiftly alter to the reddish clay after devoting the past month on yard. The surface areas couldn't be actually even more various-- the clay-based is actually dramatically slower than the lawn-- as well as the means gamers carry on the courthouse is actually also. It will be actually challenging for also those without any physical disorders or accidents. Probably partly as a result of this, Djokovic is going to simply be playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed to be exhausted as well as somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was actually certainly not put off." Allow's find how actually and psychologically I'm visiting experience. Ideally I can easily discover the right tennis because I am actually going to need all I have as well as additional to visit the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.".