.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hours after his disastrous loss in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually just been actually beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th major name held off. However it was actually clear he was attempting to proceed as quickly as he could possibly when he spoke to press reporters at his news conference later on that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Games and also US Open are the two large targets for the rest of the year for me really," Djokovic stated. "I'm wishing I can be at my finest [for] those 2 events. That's all I can easily say now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response ought to rarely come as a shock considering his essentially unrivaled career and that he's the standing up for champ at the United States Open. Yet he possesses never fairly had the exact same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Games with merely one award-- a singles bronze in 2008. Thus right now, pair of full weeks after his disappointing finish at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris for what might be his final Gamings, along with his eyes set on the one point that has shunned him throughout his famous job: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up play at Roland Garros on Saturday with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next off play acquainted opponent Rafael Nadal in the second shot in chances of receiving one step more detailed to his goal." [It's so exclusive to be] component of the oldest sports event in the past history of sporting activity," Djokovic said to the International Ping pong Alliance in May. "Certainly winning a gold medal or even gaining any kind of medal for my nation is a great wish as well as wish. It is among [my] best priorities and objectives for [this] time, there is actually obvious regarding that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic hasn't accomplished in tennis.Since switching qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually won the Australian Open 10 times (one of the most by any player outdoors era), and also is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champ as well as three-time French Open champ. He is actually tied with Margaret Courtroom for the most significant singles titles in the sporting activity's past history, and he has the absolute most in the Open era.Djokovic has won 98 occupation songs headlines (and also one in increases) as well as has stored the planet No. 1 position for a bundled 428 weeks-- another record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own 1st and merely Davis Mug title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later called "the most ideal feeling I ever had in my lifestyle as a tennis player." However while he's regularly discussed how much it suggests to him to be able to embody his nation and also how much he takes pleasure in the encounter of the Olympic Video games, he is actually simply certainly never been able to convert his typical dominance to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching 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 difference than the best-of-five-sets made use of through males in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled through the draw up until Nadal, the ultimate gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award complement, Djokovic outdoed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had won his initial primary name earlier that period in Melbourne, could not conceal his enjoyment after the suit." [I am actually] incredibly happy. I imply, to win any kind of medal in the Olympics is actually a huge achievement for any athlete I presume," Djokovic claimed. "Very few of the professional athletes get a chance to succeed a medal. But for me, this bronze, which I gained right here, shines like a gold due to the fact that I presume I have actually played respectable ping pong all competition." Djokovic also played increases along with Nenad Zimonjic, but both dropped in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Slam champion, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He defined it as "an out-of-body experience" and a "substantial delight as well as task and also honor." The competitors was secured at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the headline the year prior to, but Djokovic dropped to ultimate gold champion 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 increases, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually specifically aggravating, because he had succeeded all 3 primary labels held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years in the future the hard court of law in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (and also right now a 12-time significant champ) yet he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic lost in the 2nd round of doubles.But no reduction hurt more difficult than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic showed up after succeeding all three of the year's Bangs. He was on a pursuit to participate in simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis gamers in record to attain the "Golden Bang"-- all 4 major titles and an Olympic single people gold in the very same season.But in the semifinals-- however once again-- Djokovic had his desires dashed through possible gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually conveniently taken the initial set 6-1 yet then succeeded just 4 activities in the ultimate two collections. Things got back at worse in the bronze medal fit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic struggled to regulate his emotions, and misused his racket on a number of celebrations. He shed the match 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and then took out from the mixed increases bronze-medal complement (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later on that very same time, citing a remaining shoulder accident. He had actually played 7 complements in four days all over draws and it seemed it had actually all caught up to him." I played under medicines, extraordinary discomfort as well as tiredness," Djokovic said.He never ever had the ability to acquire his time completely back on track and shed in the final of the US Open weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his modified goal of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was actually likewise [an] psychologically extremely asking for time period for me in the final five, 6 months," Djokovic said after the reduction. "Slams and Olympics ... Every thing was actually coming together for me listed here as well as sort of collecting all the emotional states that I've been through. Unfortunately I failed to make it in the final measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a radically various position than he remained in 3 years earlier. Not only has he yet to gain a Slam this period, yet he's yet to succeed a title of any kind of kind. It's his worst begin to a period given that 2006. While he said he possesses no plans to retire, he recognizes time is actually ending. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the internet site of the French Open and also the Olympic competitors, could possibly likewise confirm tough. He harmed his knee during the course of the French Open in June and was forced to take out ahead of his quarterfinal suit. He undertook surgical operation for a torn median lens in his correct knee on June 5, in the beginning leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final earlier this month, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he will skip the grass-court event to pay attention to his recovery, and also carry on training on clay-based ahead of the Olympics. Yet Djokovic came to the All of England Nightclub a full week just before the major draw started. After numerous effective and pain-free strategies, he participated in and also went over throughout his run, showing couple of indicators of distress or obstructed motion." If somebody told me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks ago, I will take it for certain," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have must promptly readjust to the red clay after spending the past month on grass. The surfaces could not be extra different-- the clay is dramatically slower than the yard-- and also the means gamers move on the court is as well. It will certainly be tricky for also those without bodily health problems or even personal injuries. Probably in part because of this, Djokovic will just be playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed weary and also slightly dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not hindered." Permit's view how actually as well as psychologically I'm mosting likely to feel. Perhaps I can easily discover the correct tennis since I'm heading to need to have all I have and also more to head to the final of the Olympic Gamings.".