.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hrs after his dreadful reduction in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had merely been actually beat by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th significant name delayed. But it was actually crystal clear he was actually making an effort to carry on as rapidly as he could when he spoke to media reporters at his news conference later on that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games and also US Open are actually the 2 large targets for the rest of the year for me definitely," Djokovic stated. "I'm hoping I may be at my best [for] those pair of tournaments. That's all I may point out now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer must hardly happen as a surprise considering his virtually unrivaled occupation and also he's the defending champion at the United States Open. But he possesses never quite possessed the exact same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Games with merely one award-- a songs bronze in 2008. So now, 2 full weeks after his unsatisfactory finish at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris of what may be his final Games, along with his eyes set on the one thing that has avoided him throughout his historical occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened dip into Roland Garros on Sunday along with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next off play acquainted foe Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in hopes of obtaining one step deeper to his aspiration." [It is actually thus unique to become] part of the earliest sports event in the past of sporting activity," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Obviously winning a gold medal or even succeeding any kind of medal for my nation is an excellent dream and also wish. It is one of [my] best concerns and also goals for [this] time, there is clear about that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic hasn't accomplished in tennis.Since transforming qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the most through any player in the Open time), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time US Open champ and three-time French Open champ. He is actually matched along with Margaret Courtroom for the very most major single people titles in the sport's past, and also he possesses one of the most outdoors era.Djokovic has won 98 career singles labels (as well as one in multiplies) and has stored the globe No. 1 rank for a consolidated 428 weeks-- yet another record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own 1st and merely Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later called "the most effective feeling I ever had in my lifestyle as a tennis gamer." However while he's consistently referred to the amount of it suggests to him to be capable to represent his country and the amount of he delights in the encounter of the Olympic Games, he's merely never had the capacity to equate his traditional domination to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his sole Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a noticeable difference than the best-of-five-sets utilized through males in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled with the draw up until Nadal, the ultimate gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award complement, Djokovic topped James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had actually won his first primary title earlier that period in Melbourne, couldn't hide his exhilaration after the complement." [I'm] extremely happy. I mean, to gain any medal in the Olympics is actually a huge success for any sort of professional athlete I think," Djokovic pointed out. "Very few of the professional athletes get an odds to gain an award. However, for me, this bronze, which I won listed here, sparkles like a gold given that I think I've participated in decent tennis all event." Djokovic likewise participated in multiplies together with Nenad Zimonjic, however both lost in the initial round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champ, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening event. He defined it as "an out-of-body knowledge" as well as a "substantial pleasure and task and tribute." The competitors was held at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the headline the year just before, yet Djokovic dropped to possible gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight collections. Djokovic lost once more in the preliminary of doubles, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was especially frustrating, because he had won all three primary headlines kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later on the tough court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (and also currently a 12-time major champ) however he was actually stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic lost in the second sphere of doubles.But no reduction stung harder than in 2021. Competing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Gamings, Djokovic came in after gaining all 3 of the year's Bangs. He got on a pursuit to join merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis gamers in history to attain the "Golden Slam"-- all four significant labels as well as an Olympic songs gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his aspirations slammed through eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually effortlessly taken the first collection 6-1 but then succeeded simply four video games in the last pair of sets. Factors evened the score worse in the bronze award complement versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to manage his emotional states, as well as abused his racket on several events. He shed the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards removed coming from the combined doubles bronze-medal match (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later that same day, pointing out a remaining shoulder trauma. He had actually participated in seven fits in four days all over pulls as well as it seemed it had actually all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, extraordinary discomfort and fatigue," Djokovic said.He never had the capacity to get his period completely back on the right track as well as dropped in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his fine-tuned goal of the schedule Conquest." [It] was actually also [an] mentally incredibly demanding time period for me in the final 5, six months," Djokovic claimed after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Every thing was integrating for me here and kind of gathering all the emotional states that I have actually been via. Unfortunately I failed to make it in the ultimate measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a drastically various setting than he remained in three years ago. Not just possesses he as yet to win a Slam this time, yet he's yet to succeed a title of any type of kind. It's his worst begin to a time considering that 2006. While he claimed he possesses no plannings to retire, he understands opportunity is actually ending. He will certainly be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open as well as the Olympic competitors, can also show daunting. He wounded his leg during the French Open in June and was pushed to remove in front of his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical operation for a torn median meniscus in his best leg on June 5, in the beginning leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final previously this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany guessed he would certainly neglect the grass-court tournament to focus on his rehabilitation, and also carry on training on clay in front of the Olympics. However Djokovic reached the All England Nightclub a week before the main draw began. After a number of prosperous and pain-free techniques, he participated in as well as was impressive throughout his run, presenting couple of indicators of distress or even obstructed action." If someone informed me I would participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks back, I would take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have actually must swiftly readjust to the red clay-based after devoting recent month on lawn. The surfaces could not be a lot more different-- the clay-based is actually significantly slower than the grass-- and the means gamers move on the courthouse is actually too. It is going to be actually difficult for even those without any physical ailments or traumas. Possibly partly as a result of this, Djokovic is going to just be actually playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared tired and also somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was not deterred." Permit's observe how actually as well as emotionally I'm heading to really feel. Ideally I can locate the right tennis given that I am actually mosting likely to need to have all I possess and also even more to visit the final of the Olympic Gamings.".