.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hours after his disastrous loss in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was actually actually laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had merely been beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th primary name held off. But it was actually very clear he was actually trying to proceed as swiftly as he can when he talked to media reporters at his news conference later that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Games and also United States Open are actually both significant goals for the remainder of the year for me definitely," Djokovic said. "I'm wishing I could be at my absolute best [for] those two events. That's all I can point out immediately." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's solution ought to rarely happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his practically exceptional profession and that he's the defending champion at the US Open. Yet he has certainly never fairly possessed the very same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Video games with merely one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. So now, 2 weeks after his frustrating finish at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore might be his final Games, along with his eyes set on the one thing that has avoided him throughout his historical profession: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Saturday along with a prodding 6-0, 6-1 success over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next participate in knowledgeable adversary Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in hopes of getting one step deeper to his dream." [It is actually thus exclusive to become] aspect of the earliest sports celebration in the background of sport," Djokovic told the International Ping pong Federation in May. "Certainly winning a gold award or gaining any medal for my nation is actually a terrific wish and yearning. It is just one of [my] biggest priorities and also objectives for [this] time, there is clear regarding that." THERE'S LITTLE ELSE Djokovic hasn't achieved in tennis.Since switching qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the absolute most through any type of gamer in the Open period), as well as is a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champ and also three-time French Open champion. He is actually tied along with Margaret Courthouse for the very most significant singles headlines in the sport's history, and he has one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually won 98 job singles labels (and one in increases) and has held the planet No. 1 rank for a combined 428 weeks-- yet another history. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own first and also just Davis Mug headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually phoned "the most effective emotion I ever had in my lifestyle as a tennis gamer." But while he's always mentioned the amount of it indicates to him to be able to represent his nation and the amount of he appreciates the take in of the Olympic Video games, he's simply never had the ability to convert his common prominence to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic won 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 as well as Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a significant variation than the best-of-five-sets made use of by guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun via the draw up until Nadal, the possible gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal suit, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually gained his initial major name previously that season in Melbourne, could not hide his enjoyment after the fit." [I'm] really pleased. I indicate, to gain any kind of medal in the Olympics is actually a large success for any kind of sportsmen I presume," Djokovic mentioned. "Not many of the athletes acquire an odds to gain a medal. But also for me, this bronze, which I won here, sparkles like a gold considering that I assume I have actually played pretty good tennis all competition." Djokovic likewise played multiplies along with Nenad Zimonjic, but both shed in the initial round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champ, was actually called Serbia's flag-bearer for the position event. He explained it as "an out-of-body experience" as well as a "substantial enjoyment and also responsibility and also respect." The competitors was held at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the headline the year prior to, however Djokovic lost to eventual gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in direct collections. Djokovic dropped once more in the preliminary of multiplies, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically annoying, given that he had actually gained all three primary titles held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years in the future the difficult court of law in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (and also currently a 12-time significant champ) yet he was stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and Zimonjic shed in the second sphere of doubles.But no loss stung more challenging than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic showed up after gaining all 3 of the year's Slams. He got on a journey to sign up with merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in record to accomplish the "Golden Bang"-- all four significant labels and an Olympic songs gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- yet again-- Djokovic had his goals beat through possible gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had simply taken the 1st collection 6-1 but after that succeeded only 4 activities in the last pair of sets. Factors evened the score much worse in the bronze award complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic struggled to control his emotional states, as well as abused his racket on a number of celebrations. He lost the complement 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that withdrew coming from the combined increases bronze-medal complement (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later on that exact same time, presenting a remaining shoulder trauma. He had played 7 fits in four days across draws and also it appeared it had actually all caught up to him." I played under medicines, unbelievable pain and also exhaustion," Djokovic said.He certainly never was able to get his season fully back on the right track and lost in the ultimate of the United States Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his modified objective of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was actually also [an] emotionally very asking for period for me in the last five, 6 months," Djokovic pointed out after the reduction. "Slams and Olympics ... Everything was collaborating for me right here and also sort of accumulating all the emotional states that I've been by means of. Regrettably I didn't create it in the last action." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a radically different setting than he remained in 3 years back. Certainly not merely possesses he as yet to gain a Bang this season, but he is actually as yet to gain a headline of any sort of kind. It's his worst start to a time because 2006. While he stated he has no strategies to retire, he understands opportunity is going out. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the website of the French Open as well as the Olympic competition, can likewise confirm difficult. He harmed his knee in the course of the French Open in June and also was pushed to remove in advance of his quarterfinal suit. He went through surgery for a torn medial lens in his right leg on June 5, originally leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate earlier this month, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany hypothesized he would certainly skip the grass-court tournament to pay attention to his treatment, as well as continue training on clay in advance of the Olympics. But Djokovic reached the All England Club a week before the major draw began. After a number of effective and also pain-free practices, he participated in and also went over throughout his run, revealing handful of signs of pain or hindered movement." If an individual told me I would participate in [in the] Wimbledon final 3, four weeks back, I would take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have actually needed to quickly alter to the red clay after investing recent month on yard. The surface areas couldn't be actually much more different-- the clay is actually considerably slower than the lawn-- as well as the method players go on the court is actually at the same time. It will certainly be complicated for even those without physical health problems or even accidents. Possibly in part because of this, Djokovic is going to simply be actually playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared weary and a little dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was actually certainly not discouraged." Permit's observe exactly how literally and emotionally I am actually going to experience. Perhaps I may locate the best tennis given that I am actually going to need to have all I have as well as additional to visit the last of the Olympic Video games.".