.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hrs after his dreadful reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually merely been beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his goals for a record-breaking 25th major name postponed. Yet it was crystal clear he was actually making an effort to proceed as rapidly as he might when he contacted press reporters at his news conference later that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Games as well as United States Open are both huge goals for the rest of the year for me really," Djokovic claimed. "I am actually hoping I could be at my finest [for] those pair of competitions. That's all I can easily state now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer should hardly come as a shock considering his basically unrivaled career and also he is actually the speaking up for champion at the United States Open. But he possesses never rather possessed the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Gamings along with only one medal-- a singles bronze in 2008. Thus now, 2 full weeks after his unsatisfactory surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore could be his ultimate Games, along with his eyes bented on the one thing that has actually outruned him throughout his historic occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Saturday with a prodding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next off play knowledgeable enemy Rafael Nadal in the second round in chances of receiving one measure deeper to his goal." [It's thus exclusive to become] aspect of the earliest sporting activities occasion in the record of sport," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Certainly winning a gold award or even winning any kind of award for my country is a wonderful dream and also dream. It is just one of [my] greatest concerns and targets for [this] time, there is actually clear about that." THERE is actually MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic have not obtained in tennis.Since transforming qualified in 2003, Djokovic has gained the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the best through any type of player outdoors era), and also is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champion and also three-time French Open champ. He is actually matched along with Margaret Courtroom for the most significant singles titles in the sporting activity's past, and he has the best in the Open era.Djokovic has actually succeeded 98 job songs headlines (and one in multiplies) as well as has actually stored the globe No. 1 rank for a combined 428 full weeks-- another track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its first and also just Davis Cup label in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later got in touch with "the best sensation I ever before invited my lifestyle as a ping pong gamer." Yet while he is actually constantly referred to how much it indicates to him to be capable to embody his nation and also the amount of he delights in the experience of the Olympic Video games, he is actually merely certainly never had the capacity to translate his traditional supremacy to sport's largest stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a significant variation than the best-of-five-sets made use of through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled through the draw until Nadal, the ultimate gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic beat James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had gained his 1st significant name earlier that period in Melbourne, couldn't conceal his enjoyment after the fit." [I'm] incredibly satisfied. I suggest, to win any kind of medal in the Olympics is actually a large success for any athlete I presume," Djokovic said. "Not many of the professional athletes acquire an opportunity to succeed an award. But also for me, this bronze, which I won listed below, radiates like a gold due to the fact that I assume I've played pretty good ping pong all tournament." Djokovic additionally played doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, but both lost in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Bang champ, was called Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening event. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body experience" as well as a "significant satisfaction and task and honor." The competitors was actually kept at Wimbledon, where he had gained the title the year just before, however Djokovic dropped to ultimate gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct collections. Djokovic shed again 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 specifically discouraging, since he had actually won all three primary headlines held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the tough court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (and also now a 12-time significant champ) but he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and Zimonjic lost in the second sphere of doubles.But no reduction stung more challenging than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Gamings, Djokovic got here after winning all three of the year's Slams. He was on a journey to join just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in record to attain the "Golden Slam"-- all four significant titles and also an Olympic singles gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however once again-- Djokovic had his dreams beat through resulting gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually quickly taken the very first set 6-1 however at that point won just four video games in the last pair of sets. Traits got even worse in the bronze medal fit against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic struggled to regulate his emotional states, as well as abused his racket on various celebrations. He lost the complement 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards withdrew from the blended doubles bronze-medal suit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later on that exact same time, mentioning a left shoulder accident. He had actually participated in seven complements in 4 times around pulls and also it appeared it had all caught up to him." I played under medications, astonishing ache and fatigue," Djokovic said.He never ever had the ability to get his time entirely back on course as well as dropped in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his modified objective of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was likewise [an] emotionally quite asking for time frame for me in the final 5, six months," Djokovic mentioned after the loss. "Slams as well as Olympics ... Every little thing was coming together for me right here and also type of building up all the emotional states that I have actually been via. Regrettably I really did not create it in the ultimate step." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a substantially various setting than he was in three years ago. Certainly not just has he yet to succeed a Bang this period, yet he's yet to win a headline of any sort of kind. It's his worst start to a time because 2006. While he mentioned he has no plans to retire, he recognizes time is actually running out. He will certainly be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the website of the French Open as well as the Olympic competitors, can also confirm challenging. He injured his leg throughout the French Open in June and also was forced to withdraw in front of his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgery for a torn medial lens in his correct knee on June 5, initially leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany hypothesized he would certainly pass up the grass-court event to focus on his treatment, and also carry on training on clay in advance of the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All of England Nightclub a full week prior to the major draw started. After many effective as well as pain-free methods, he participated in and went over throughout his run, presenting few indicators of pain or interfered with movement." If a person informed me I would participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks earlier, I would take it for sure," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have actually must quickly readjust to the reddish clay after devoting recent month on grass. The surface areas could not be a lot more different-- the clay is actually considerably slower than the grass-- and also the method players proceed the courthouse is actually also. It will certainly be actually challenging for also those with no bodily afflictions or injuries. Maybe partly because of this, Djokovic is going to merely be actually playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed to be worn out and also a little dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not discouraged." Permit's view exactly how physically as well as mentally I'm heading to experience. With any luck I may discover the correct ping pong considering that I am actually mosting likely to need to have all I possess and more to go to the last of the Olympic Video games.".