.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hours after his terrible reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was presently laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had only been defeated through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his dreams for a record-breaking 25th significant name held off. However it was very clear he was making an effort to proceed as promptly as he could when he contacted press reporters at his news conference later on that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Video Games as well as United States Open are the 2 huge targets for the remainder of the year for me definitely," Djokovic pointed out. "I am actually hoping I could be at my absolute best [for] those two tournaments. That is actually all I may point out immediately." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer must barely happen as a surprise considering his essentially unmatched career which he is actually the standing up for champ at the US Open. Yet he has never fairly possessed the very same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games along with simply one award-- a singles bronze in 2008. So today, 2 weeks after his frustrating appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore may be his last Games, with his eyes set on the one point that has actually thwarted him throughout his historic career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened dip into Roland Garros on Saturday along with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He is going to next off participate in knowledgeable adversary Rafael Nadal in the second shot in chances of receiving one step closer to his dream." [It's so special to be] portion of the oldest sports activity in the past of sporting activity," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Alliance in May. "Certainly succeeding a gold medal or even succeeding any kind of medal for my country is a wonderful desire and also wish. It is just one of [my] best concerns and goals for [this] season, there is no secret about that." THERE is actually BIT ELSE Djokovic hasn't accomplished in tennis.Since switching expert in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the best by any sort of gamer in the Open time), as well as is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champ as well as three-time French Open champion. He is tied with Margaret Court for the most primary songs headlines in the sport's past, and he possesses the most in the Open era.Djokovic has won 98 occupation songs headlines (as well as one in multiplies) and has held the planet No. 1 ranking for a consolidated 428 weeks-- another track record. Djokovic even led Serbia to its very first and only Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, something that he eventually called "the greatest feeling I ever before had in my life as a ping pong gamer." But while he's constantly spoken about the amount of it suggests to him to become able to represent his country and also the amount of he appreciates the experience of the Olympic Games, he is actually simply never ever had the capacity to translate his traditional dominance to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his only Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was 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 made use of through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled by means of the draw until Nadal, the ultimate gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award fit, Djokovic exceeded James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had actually gained his initial major title earlier that season in Melbourne, couldn't conceal his enthusiasm after the suit." [I am actually] very pleased. I indicate, to win any sort of medal in the Olympics is actually a massive success for any type of athlete I presume," Djokovic said. "Few of the professional athletes obtain an opportunity to win a medal. But for me, this bronze, which I gained right here, radiates like a gold because I believe I have actually participated in fair tennis all tournament." Djokovic also participated in multiplies together with Nenad Zimonjic, yet the pair shed in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champion, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He defined it as "an out-of-body knowledge" and a "big satisfaction as well as duty as well as respect." The competitors was actually secured at Wimbledon, where he had gained the headline the year before, yet Djokovic lost to ultimate gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in straight collections. Djokovic lost once again in the first round of doubles, this moment along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually especially discouraging, due to the fact that he had gained all three significant headlines kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later on the challenging court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (and also right now a 12-time significant champion) yet he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic shed in the 2nd round of doubles.But no reduction hurt tougher than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic got here after gaining all three of the year's Slams. He was on a journey to sign up with simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis players in past history to accomplish the "Golden Bang"-- all 4 primary headlines and also an Olympic songs gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- yet again-- Djokovic had his goals beat through eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually effortlessly taken the very first set 6-1 however then won only four video games in the final 2 sets. Traits evened the score much worse in the bronze medal fit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to handle his emotional states, and also abused his racket on various affairs. He shed the fit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that took out coming from the blended multiplies bronze-medal complement (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin eventually that same day, citing a left shoulder accident. He had actually participated in 7 suits in 4 times across draws and it seemed it had actually all caught up to him." I played under medications, astounding ache and also fatigue," Djokovic said.He never ever managed to get his period entirely back on the right track and shed in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, foiling his modified objective of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was actually also [an] mentally incredibly demanding time period for me in the last five, six months," Djokovic claimed after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Whatever was actually converging for me listed here as well as kind of building up all the emotions that I have actually been with. Unfortunately I failed to make it in the final measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a radically different placement than he resided in three years ago. Certainly not only possesses he yet to succeed a Bang this season, yet he's as yet to gain a label of any sort of kind. It's his worst begin to a time given that 2006. While he said he possesses no plannings to resign, he recognizes opportunity is actually ending. He will be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open and the Olympic competitors, might additionally confirm challenging. He harmed his knee throughout the French Open in June as well as was forced to withdraw in advance of his quarterfinal suit. He underwent surgery for a torn medial meniscus in his correct leg on June 5, initially leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate earlier this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he would certainly leave out the grass-court event to pay attention to his recovery, and proceed training on clay before the Olympics. However Djokovic reached the All of England Club a week prior to the main draw started. After a number of productive and also pain-free practices, he played as well as was impressive throughout his operate, presenting handful of indications of pain or even hampered activity." If a person informed me I would play [in the] Wimbledon final three, 4 weeks ago, I will take it for certain," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have must quickly alter to the red clay after devoting recent month on turf. The surface areas could not be actually more different-- the clay is actually substantially slower than the turf-- as well as the means players proceed the courthouse is actually too. It is going to be actually tricky for even those without bodily ailments or even accidents. Maybe partially due to this, Djokovic is going to only be actually playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed weary and also somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was actually certainly not hindered." Permit's view exactly how physically as well as mentally I am actually heading to really feel. Perhaps I can discover the appropriate tennis since I am actually mosting likely to need to have all I have as well as even more to go to the last of the Olympic Games.".