.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hours after his destructive reduction in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was actually currently laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually merely been defeated through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his goals for a record-breaking 25th major name postponed. But it was crystal clear he was attempting to move on as rapidly as he might when he talked to media reporters at his news conference later that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Gamings and also United States Open are both large targets for the remainder of the year for me definitely," Djokovic claimed. "I'm wishing I could be at my best [for] those 2 tournaments. That is actually all I may claim right now." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response must barely happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his essentially unequaled career which he is actually the defending champ at the US Open. Yet he has never ever fairly possessed the exact same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Video games with just one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. Thus right now, two weeks after his unsatisfactory surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris of what could be his ultimate Video games, with his eyes bented on the one point that has actually eluded him throughout his historic job: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened dip into Roland Garros on Saturday with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next off participate in familiar adversary Rafael Nadal in the second round in hopes of getting one step deeper to his dream." [It is actually thus unique to be] aspect of the oldest sporting activities celebration in the background of sport," Djokovic said to the International Ping pong Alliance in May. "Certainly gaining a gold medal or even succeeding any sort of medal for my nation is a terrific dream and dream. It is among [my] greatest concerns as well as objectives for [this] season, there is obvious about that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic hasn't achieved in tennis.Since transforming qualified in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 times (the best through any type of gamer in the Open period), and is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champ and three-time French Open champion. He is actually matched along with Margaret Courtroom for the very most major songs headlines in the sport's past, and also he has one of the most outdoors era.Djokovic has gained 98 career singles headlines (as well as one in multiplies) as well as has stored the globe No. 1 ranking for a mixed 428 weeks-- one more record. Djokovic even led Serbia to its 1st and also merely Davis Cup title in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later got in touch with "the greatest sensation I ever invited my life as a tennis gamer." However while he is actually always discussed just how much it means to him to be capable to embody his nation and also the amount of he enjoys the experience of the Olympic Video games, he is actually merely never ever been able to equate his common authority to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets format-- a noticeable difference than the best-of-five-sets used by males in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun with the draw until Nadal, the eventual gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award fit, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually won his initial major title previously that season in Melbourne, couldn't hide his enjoyment after the suit." [I am actually] extremely pleased. I mean, to succeed any award in the Olympics is actually a substantial success for any kind of sportsmen I assume," Djokovic mentioned. "Few of the athletes acquire an odds to gain an award. But for me, this bronze, which I won here, sparkles like a gold because I believe I have actually played respectable ping pong all tournament." Djokovic likewise played doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, but both shed in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Bang champion, was called Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body expertise" and a "substantial pleasure and duty and respect." The competition was actually held at Wimbledon, where he had actually won the title the year before, however Djokovic lost to eventual gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic lost once more in the first round of multiplies, this moment along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically irritating, since he had actually succeeded all 3 significant headlines had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the difficult court of law in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (as well as now a 12-time significant champion) however he was actually stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic shed in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no loss hurt tougher than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic got here after gaining all three of the year's Slams. He performed a mission to join just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in background to obtain the "Golden Bang"-- all four major titles and also an Olympic single people gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however once again-- Djokovic had his dreams beat through resulting gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had actually simply taken the 1st set 6-1 but after that won merely 4 games in the final pair of collections. Things got even much worse in the bronze award suit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to regulate his feelings, and misused his racket on multiple affairs. He shed the match 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and then withdrew coming from the blended doubles bronze-medal complement (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start eventually that same time, mentioning a remaining shoulder personal injury. He had actually played 7 complements in 4 times throughout pulls and it seemed it had actually all reached him." I participated in under medications, amazing ache and also exhaustion," Djokovic said.He certainly never managed to obtain his season fully back on the right track as well as dropped in the final of the US Open weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, combating his altered goal of the calendar Conquest." [It] was actually additionally [an] emotionally really asking for duration for me in the final 5, 6 months," Djokovic stated after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Whatever was actually converging for me below as well as type of accumulating all the emotions that I have actually been by means of. Unfortunately I failed to make it in the final measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a substantially various setting than he remained in three years back. Certainly not just possesses he as yet to win a Slam this season, yet he's as yet to win a headline of any kind. It's his worst start to a time since 2006. While he said he possesses no strategies to retire, he knows opportunity is going out. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the site of the French Open and also the Olympic competition, could possibly additionally confirm challenging. He injured his leg during the French Open in June as well as was actually pushed to withdraw ahead of his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical treatment for a torn medial crescent in his best knee on June 5, originally leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany hypothesized he will skip the grass-court competition to concentrate on his rehabilitation, as well as proceed instruction on clay-based ahead of the Olympics. However Djokovic got to the All of England Nightclub a full week prior to the principal draw began. After numerous prosperous and pain-free practices, he participated in and also was impressive throughout his run, revealing few indicators of pain or even obstructed activity." If somebody informed me I will participate in [in the] Wimbledon final three, four weeks ago, I will take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and his peers have actually had to rapidly alter to the red clay after spending recent month on yard. The areas couldn't be much more various-- the clay-based is actually significantly slower than the yard-- and the way gamers go on the court is actually too. It will definitely be difficult for even those without any bodily ailments or injuries. Perhaps partly as a result of this, Djokovic will just be playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared worn out and slightly dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was certainly not prevented." Let's observe how literally and also psychologically I am actually visiting really feel. Perhaps I can easily discover the ideal ping pong because I am actually heading to require all I possess as well as even more to visit the ultimate of the Olympic Games.".