.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hrs after his destructive loss in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was actually laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually merely been actually beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his desires for a record-breaking 25th primary title held off. However it was actually very clear he was actually trying to proceed as promptly as he can when he contacted reporters at his press conference later on that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Video Games and United States Open are the 2 large targets for the remainder of the year for me actually," Djokovic stated. "I am actually hoping I can be at my absolute best [for] those two events. That is actually all I can easily mention at the moment." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's solution need to hardly happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his practically exceptional profession and that he is actually the speaking up for champ at the US Open. But he has never ever quite had the same results at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Gamings with merely one medal-- a single people bronze in 2008. So now, two full weeks after his unsatisfactory coating at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore could be his final Gamings, with his eyes bented on the the main thing that has avoided him throughout his historic career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Sunday with an effective 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next play acquainted foe Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in hopes of obtaining one measure nearer to his aspiration." [It is actually thus special to become] portion of the earliest sports event in the past of sport," Djokovic told the International Tennis Federation in May. "Of course winning a gold award or winning any sort of medal for my country is actually a fantastic wish and yearning. It is among [my] ultimate priorities and also targets for [this] period, there is actually no secret about that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic have not attained in tennis.Since switching professional in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the best through any sort of gamer outdoors period), as well as is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champion as well as three-time French Open champion. He is actually tied along with Margaret Courthouse for the most significant single people headlines in the sport's history, and also he possesses the best in the Open era.Djokovic has won 98 job singles labels (and also one in doubles) and has stored the planet No. 1 rank for a consolidated 428 weeks-- an additional history. Djokovic even led Serbia to its own initial and only Davis Cup label in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually got in touch with "the greatest feeling I ever had in my lifestyle as a ping pong player." Yet while he is actually consistently mentioned the amount of it means to him to be capable to represent his nation and also the amount of he appreciates the take in of the Olympic Games, he is actually simply never ever been able to convert his common dominance to sporting activity's biggest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his only Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a noticeable difference than the best-of-five-sets used by guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun with 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 outdoed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had actually gained his very first major name previously that period in Melbourne, could not conceal his exhilaration after the complement." [I'm] very happy. I mean, to gain any sort of award in the Olympics is a massive success for any type of athlete I presume," Djokovic mentioned. "Not many of the athletes acquire an opportunity to succeed a medal. However, for me, this bronze, which I won below, radiates like a gold because I presume I've played good ping pong all event." Djokovic additionally played doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, however both dropped in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Bang champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He explained it as "an out-of-body expertise" as well as a "big enjoyment and also task and also tribute." The competitors was kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually gained the title the year before, yet Djokovic shed to possible gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic lost once more in the first round of increases, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually especially annoying, since he had actually won all 3 major labels had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later on the hard court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (as well as currently a 12-time significant champion) but he was actually stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic dropped in the 2nd round of doubles.But no reduction stung more difficult than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic got here after gaining all three of the year's Slams. He performed a journey to participate in merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in past history to obtain the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary titles and also an Olympic single people gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his desires shattered by eventual gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had simply taken the 1st collection 6-1 however at that point succeeded only four video games in the final 2 collections. Points got back at worse in the bronze medal complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to regulate his emotional states, and also misused his racket on various events. He dropped the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards removed from the blended multiplies bronze-medal suit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later that very same day, mentioning a nigh side shoulder injury. He had actually played 7 matches in 4 times all over draws as well as it appeared it had actually all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, extraordinary pain as well as tiredness," Djokovic said.He certainly never managed to acquire his season entirely back on the right track and shed in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, thwarting his modified goal of the calendar Conquest." [It] was additionally [an] mentally extremely demanding time frame for me in the last 5, six months," Djokovic stated after the loss. "Bangs and Olympics ... Every little thing was actually converging for me right here as well as sort of building up all the feelings that I've been actually via. However I really did not make it in the final measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a significantly various setting than he was in three years ago. Certainly not only has he as yet to succeed a Slam this season, but he is actually yet to win a headline of any sort of kind. It's his worst start to a period given that 2006. While he said he possesses no plannings to resign, he recognizes time is running out. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the website of the French Open as well as the Olympic competitors, could additionally confirm tough. He wounded his leg in the course of the French Open in June and also was forced to take out in front of his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgery for a torn medial crescent in his best leg on June 5, at first leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate earlier this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany speculated he will pass up the grass-court competition to concentrate on his treatment, as well as continue instruction on clay ahead of the Olympics. However Djokovic arrived at the All England Club a full week just before the main draw began. After several successful and also pain-free techniques, he participated in as well as went over throughout his run, revealing few signs of pain or even hindered movement." If a person told me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon last 3, 4 full weeks ago, I will take it for certain," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have actually had to quickly readjust to the red clay after spending recent month on lawn. The areas could not be actually extra different-- the clay is actually dramatically slower than the turf-- as well as the way gamers carry on the court is actually as well. It will certainly be actually tricky for even those without physical disorders or traumas. Probably partly as a result of this, Djokovic is going to simply be playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed tired as well as slightly dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was certainly not discouraged." Allow's find exactly how physically and emotionally I am actually visiting experience. Perhaps I can easily find the appropriate ping pong due to the fact that I'm heading to require all I possess and more to visit the ultimate of the Olympic Gamings.".