.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hours after his dreadful reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had merely been defeated through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th primary name delayed. Yet it was crystal clear he was trying to proceed as rapidly as he might when he talked to reporters at his news conference eventually that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games and United States Open are actually the 2 significant goals for the rest of the year for me truly," Djokovic said. "I'm hoping I can be at my ideal [for] those 2 events. That's all I can say at this moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response must hardly come as a shock considering his practically unrivaled career which he is actually the speaking up for champ at the United States Open. But he possesses never very possessed the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games with simply one award-- a single people bronze in 2008. Therefore right now, 2 full weeks after his unsatisfying coating at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris of what might be his final Gamings, along with his eyes set on the the main thing that has actually shunned him throughout his historical career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Saturday along with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 success over Matthew Ebden. He will next off play acquainted enemy Rafael Nadal in the second round in hopes of obtaining one step nearer to his desire." [It's so unique to become] part of the oldest sporting activities occasion in the background of sporting activity," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Naturally winning a gold award or gaining any kind of medal for my country is actually a terrific dream as well as want. It is among [my] best concerns and also objectives for [this] period, there is actually clear about that." THERE'S MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic have not accomplished in tennis.Since switching qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually succeeded the Australian Open 10 times (the most by any type of gamer outdoors age), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time US Open champion as well as three-time French Open champion. He is actually tied with Margaret Court for the very most significant singles labels in the sporting activity's background, and also he has the absolute most outdoors era.Djokovic has actually succeeded 98 occupation single people titles (as well as one in doubles) and has actually held the planet No. 1 rank for a bundled 428 weeks-- an additional history. Djokovic even led Serbia to its own initial as well as just Davis Cup label in Belgrade in 2010, something that he eventually phoned "the most effective feeling I ever invited my life as a tennis gamer." However while he is actually constantly mentioned how much it indicates to him to become capable to exemplify his country and how much he appreciates the encounter of the Olympic Gamings, he is actually merely certainly never been able to translate his traditional dominance to sport's largest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer as well as Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a significant distinction than the best-of-five-sets used by men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun by means of the draw up until Nadal, the possible gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award match, Djokovic exceeded James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually won his initial major title previously that period in Melbourne, could not conceal his enthusiasm after the complement." [I'm] extremely happy. I mean, to gain any medal in the Olympics is a huge accomplishment for any sort of sportsmen I presume," Djokovic claimed. "Few of the sportsmens obtain a possibility to win a medal. But also for me, this bronze, which I won listed below, sparkles like a gold considering that I presume I've played good ping pong all competition." Djokovic additionally participated in increases together with Nenad Zimonjic, but both lost in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He defined it as "an out-of-body expertise" and a "large delight and responsibility as well as respect." The competitors was secured at Wimbledon, where he had won the headline the year prior to, however Djokovic dropped 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 dropped once more in the preliminary of doubles, this time around with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically discouraging, because he had won all three primary titles kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later on the challenging court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (and also currently a 12-time major champion) however he was actually stunned by Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic and Zimonjic lost in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no reduction stung tougher than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic came in after gaining all 3 of the year's Bangs. He was on a journey to participate in simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis gamers in record to achieve the "Golden Slam"-- all four primary headlines and an Olympic songs gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his desires shattered through ultimate gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually effortlessly taken the very first set 6-1 however at that point gained only 4 video games in the ultimate 2 collections. Points evened the score much worse in the bronze medal complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to manage his emotional states, as well as misused his racket on several events. He shed the complement 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that withdrew from the blended doubles bronze-medal suit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start eventually that exact same day, citing a remaining shoulder injury. He had participated in seven complements in 4 times around draws and it appeared it had all caught up to him." I played under medications, extraordinary pain and also tiredness," Djokovic said.He never managed to get his season entirely back on course and shed in the final of the United States Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, thwarting his adjusted goal of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was also [an] mentally extremely requiring time frame for me in the last 5, six months," Djokovic pointed out after the reduction. "Slams and Olympics ... Every thing was collaborating for me here as well as type of collecting all the feelings that I have actually been with. However I didn't create it in the ultimate action." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a substantially various position than he resided in three years earlier. Not only has he as yet to succeed a Slam this period, yet he's yet to succeed a headline of any type of kind. It's his worst begin to a period since 2006. While he claimed he has no strategies to retire, he understands opportunity is running out. He will definitely be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the website of the French Open and also the Olympic competitors, can additionally prove challenging. He wounded his leg during the course of the French Open in June as well as was actually forced to remove ahead of his quarterfinal suit. He went through surgery for a torn median curve in his ideal leg on June 5, originally leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final previously this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany speculated he would certainly skip the grass-court event to concentrate on his recovery, and also carry on instruction on clay before the Olympics. But Djokovic got to the All England Nightclub a week just before the main draw started. After many successful as well as pain-free techniques, he participated in as well as was impressive throughout his run, showing handful of indicators of soreness or interfered with activity." If a person informed me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks earlier, I will take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and his peers have must promptly readjust to the reddish clay after spending recent month on lawn. The surfaces could not be even more various-- the clay-based is considerably slower than the yard-- as well as the way players go on the courtroom is also. It will be actually tricky for also those without any bodily disorders or injuries. Probably partially because of this, Djokovic will merely be playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed to be worn out and a little dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not discouraged." Let's observe exactly how physically and also emotionally I am actually going to feel. With any luck I can find the appropriate ping pong given that I'm going to need to have all I have and also more to go to the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.".