.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hours after his terrible loss in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was currently laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had only been actually defeated through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th significant title held off. But it was very clear he was actually making an effort to go on as promptly as he can when he spoke to reporters at his news conference eventually that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Games and also United States Open are the 2 big objectives for the remainder of the year for me truly," Djokovic mentioned. "I'm hoping I can be at my greatest [for] those 2 events. That's all I can easily state now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response ought to hardly happen as a shock considering his basically unparalleled career which he is actually the standing up for champion at the US Open. However he possesses never fairly possessed the same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Gamings with only one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. Thus now, 2 full weeks after his frustrating appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris of what may be his final Gamings, with his eyes bented on the one thing that has thwarted him throughout his famous occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Saturday with an effective 6-0, 6-1 success over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next participate in acquainted adversary Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in chances of obtaining one measure deeper to his goal." [It is actually therefore special to be] portion of the earliest sporting activities event in the background of sport," Djokovic informed the International Ping pong Federation in May. "Certainly gaining a gold medal or succeeding any sort of medal for my country is actually an excellent dream and also wish. It is one of [my] biggest priorities as well as objectives for [this] time, there is no secret regarding that." THERE is actually LITTLE ELSE Djokovic have not achieved in tennis.Since transforming professional in 2003, Djokovic has won the Australian Open 10 times (the absolute most through any gamer outdoors era), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time United States Open champion and also three-time French Open champ. He is tied with Margaret Court for the most primary songs titles in the sport's record, as well as he possesses one of the most outdoors era.Djokovic has actually gained 98 career singles labels (and one in increases) and also has actually stored the world No. 1 ranking for a bundled 428 weeks-- another history. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own initial and also merely Davis Mug headline in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later on called "the most effective sensation I ever before invited my life as a ping pong player." But while he's constantly spoken about just how much it suggests to him to be capable to represent his country and just how much he takes pleasure in the encounter of the Olympic Games, he is actually simply never had the ability to translate his common authority to sport's largest stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his only Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets format-- a significant variation than the best-of-five-sets utilized through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled through the draw till Nadal, the eventual gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal complement, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had actually won his first significant name earlier that time in Melbourne, couldn't conceal his excitement after the complement." [I'm] very happy. I mean, to gain any medal in the Olympics is a large success for any kind of sportsmen I believe," Djokovic pointed out. "Very few of the sportsmens get an opportunity to win an award. However, for me, this bronze, which I gained right here, radiates like a gold considering that I think I have actually participated in pretty good tennis all event." Djokovic additionally played increases alongside Nenad Zimonjic, but both lost in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He explained it as "an out-of-body expertise" and also a "huge enjoyment and obligation and also tribute." The competition was actually kept at Wimbledon, where he had won the title the year prior to, yet Djokovic shed to resulting gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct sets. Djokovic lost once again in the first round of increases, this moment along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was particularly aggravating, due to the fact that he had gained all 3 significant titles held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the difficult court in Rio, Djokovic was the front runner (and also right now a 12-time primary champion) but he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic dropped in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no reduction stung tougher than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic got there after gaining all three of the year's Bangs. He performed a mission to participate in merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in history to achieve the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary labels and also an Olympic songs gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- yet once again-- Djokovic had his goals dashed through ultimate gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had quickly taken the 1st set 6-1 yet then gained only four video games in the last pair of collections. Things evened the score worse in the bronze award match versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic struggled to regulate his feelings, as well as abused his racket on a number of celebrations. He shed the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards removed from the mixed doubles bronze-medal suit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later on that same time, pointing out a left side shoulder trauma. He had participated in 7 complements in four times across draws as well as it appeared it had actually all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, astounding ache as well as tiredness," Djokovic said.He never ever was able to acquire his season completely back on track as well as dropped in the final of the US Open weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his altered objective of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was likewise [an] psychologically incredibly demanding time frame for me in the last five, 6 months," Djokovic pointed out after the reduction. "Bangs and also Olympics ... Whatever was collaborating for me right here and also kind of collecting all the feelings that I've been through. Sadly I really did not make it in the ultimate measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a radically different placement than he was in three years back. Not merely has he yet to succeed a Bang this season, yet he's as yet to succeed a label of any kind of kind. It's his worst beginning to a period because 2006. While he said he has no strategies to resign, he understands time is running out. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the site of the French Open as well as the Olympic competition, could possibly likewise confirm daunting. He wounded his knee in the course of the French Open in June as well as was pushed to remove in front of his quarterfinal match. He went through surgical treatment for a torn medial crescent in his appropriate knee on June 5, originally leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the last earlier this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany guessed he would certainly neglect the grass-court event to focus on his rehabilitation, and also continue instruction on clay-based ahead of the Olympics. Yet Djokovic came to the All of England Club a week before the primary draw began. After a number of prosperous and also pain-free methods, he participated in and also was impressive throughout his run, revealing couple of indicators of pain or even hampered movement." If an individual told me I will play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks ago, I would certainly take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have must promptly alter to the reddish clay-based after devoting recent month on grass. The areas could not be actually even more various-- the clay-based is actually significantly slower than the yard-- and also the technique gamers move on the courtroom is also. It will definitely be tricky for even those without any physical disorders or accidents. Maybe in part because of this, Djokovic will merely be actually playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed worn out and also somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not deterred." Permit's observe how literally and also mentally I am actually heading to feel. Ideally I may find the best tennis since I'm heading to need all I have and more to go to the last of the Olympic Video games.".