.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hrs after his destructive reduction in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was already 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 primary title held off. But it was crystal clear he was actually attempting to go on as promptly as he could when he talked to media reporters at his press conference later that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games as well as US Open are actually the 2 huge goals for the rest of the year for me truly," Djokovic claimed. "I am actually hoping I may be at my ideal [for] those 2 competitions. That is actually all I can mention at the moment." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer should hardly happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his practically exceptional profession and also he's the defending champ at the United States Open. However he has never very had the same results at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Video games with only one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. So now, 2 weeks after his frustrating appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore may be his final Video games, with his eyes bented on the a single thing that has actually shunned him throughout his historic job: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Sunday along with an effective 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He is going to next off play acquainted adversary Rafael Nadal in the second shot in hopes of getting one step nearer to his dream." [It is actually therefore unique to be] portion of the oldest sporting activities event in the history of sport," Djokovic told the International Tennis Federation in May. "Certainly winning a gold medal or winning any medal for my country is actually a great desire as well as yearning. It is among [my] greatest priorities as well as targets for [this] season, there is actually no secret concerning that." THERE is actually BIT ELSE Djokovic hasn't obtained in tennis.Since turning specialist in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the most through any gamer outdoors era), as well as is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champ as well as three-time French Open champion. He is actually tied along with Margaret Courtroom for the most significant singles labels in the sporting activity's record, as well as he possesses one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually succeeded 98 occupation singles headlines (and also one in doubles) and has actually kept the planet No. 1 ranking for a bundled 428 full weeks-- an additional history. Djokovic also led Serbia to its very first and merely Davis Mug label in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later got in touch with "the very best sensation I ever invited my life as a ping pong gamer." Yet while he's regularly referred to the amount of it suggests to him to be capable to exemplify his country and also just how much he appreciates the experience of the Olympic Gamings, he is actually just never ever been able to translate his traditional dominance to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets format-- a noticeable variation than the best-of-five-sets used through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun by means of the draw until Nadal, the resulting gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award match, Djokovic beat James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually won his initial major title earlier that time in Melbourne, couldn't conceal his enjoyment after the match." [I am actually] quite delighted. I mean, to gain any sort of award in the Olympics is a significant accomplishment for any sort of sportsmen I believe," Djokovic said. "Very few of the athletes acquire a chance to win an award. But also for me, this bronze, which I succeeded here, sparkles like a gold because I assume I've played good ping pong all tournament." Djokovic additionally played increases together with Nenad Zimonjic, yet both shed in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champ, was actually called Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body adventure" and a "significant delight and also obligation and honor." The competitors was kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the headline the year before, however Djokovic shed to eventual gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in straight collections. Djokovic dropped 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 particularly irritating, due to the fact that he had succeeded all 3 primary labels held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the hard court in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (as well as right now a 12-time primary champ) yet he was stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic dropped in the second sphere of doubles.But no loss hurt tougher than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic came in after succeeding all three of the year's Bangs. He performed a quest to join just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in past to achieve the "Golden Slam"-- all four primary titles as well as an Olympic singles gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his aspirations slammed by ultimate gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had effortlessly taken the 1st set 6-1 yet at that point gained simply 4 games in the ultimate two sets. Factors got back at worse in the bronze award complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to control his emotions, and also misused his racket on numerous events. He lost the complement 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and then took out from the mixed multiplies bronze-medal complement (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin eventually that same day, presenting a remaining shoulder accident. He had played seven matches in 4 times all over attracts and also it seemed it had actually all reached him." I participated in under medications, astonishing ache and exhaustion," Djokovic said.He never had the ability to receive his season totally back on track and also shed in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his adjusted target of the calendar Conquest." [It] was likewise [an] psychologically extremely requiring time frame for me in the last 5, six months," Djokovic said after the loss. "Bangs and Olympics ... Everything was actually converging for me below and type of building up all the emotional states that I've been actually by means of. However I didn't create it in the final step." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a significantly different position than he resided in three years ago. Not simply possesses he as yet to win a Slam this season, yet he's yet to gain a label of any kind of kind. It's his worst start to a period given that 2006. While he said he has no programs to retire, he knows opportunity is ending. He will definitely be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the site of the French Open as well as the Olympic competitors, could also show tough. He hurt his leg throughout the French Open in June and also was forced to withdraw in advance of his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgical procedure for a torn median meniscus in his appropriate knee on June 5, at first leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany speculated he would leave out the grass-court competition to pay attention to his treatment, as well as carry on instruction on clay-based in advance of the Olympics. But Djokovic got to the All of England Club a week just before the main draw started. After many successful and pain-free techniques, he participated in and also was impressive throughout his run, revealing handful of indications of soreness or even hindered activity." If someone told me I would certainly participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, four full weeks back, I would take it for certain," he said.Djokovic and his peers have must swiftly alter to the reddish clay after devoting recent month on grass. The surface areas couldn't be a lot more different-- the clay is actually dramatically slower than the yard-- and the means gamers go on the court is actually also. It is going to be actually challenging for even those with no bodily disorders or even traumas. Perhaps partly as a result of this, Djokovic is going to just be playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared tired as well as a little dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not prevented." Allow's observe how literally and also psychologically I am actually visiting really feel. Ideally I can easily locate the best tennis considering that I am actually mosting likely to need all I possess and also more to visit the ultimate of the Olympic Games.".