.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hrs after his devastating loss in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had just been actually beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his dreams for a record-breaking 25th major name postponed. However it was clear he was actually making an effort to carry on as quickly as he can when he spoke to press reporters at his news conference later that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games and also United States Open are the 2 huge objectives for the remainder of the year for me actually," Djokovic mentioned. "I am actually hoping I may be at my best [for] those 2 events. That is actually all I can easily state at the moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer should hardly come as a surprise considering his basically unequaled profession and that he's the standing up for champ at the United States Open. Yet he possesses certainly never fairly possessed the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Gamings along with simply one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. So now, 2 full weeks after his unsatisfactory appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore may be his last Games, along with his eyes bented on the one thing that has avoided him throughout his historic career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up play at Roland Garros on Saturday along with an effective 6-0, 6-1 success over Matthew Ebden. He will next play familiar enemy Rafael Nadal in the second shot in chances of getting one step better to his dream." [It's thus unique to be] part of the oldest sports event in the record of sporting activity," Djokovic told the International Tennis Federation in May. "Obviously succeeding a gold award or gaining any award for my nation is actually an excellent wish and longing. It is just one of [my] ultimate priorities and goals for [this] time, there is clear regarding that." THERE'S LITTLE ELSE Djokovic hasn't obtained in tennis.Since transforming specialist in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 times (the best by any kind of player in the Open time), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time US Open champion as well as three-time French Open champ. He is matched with Margaret Court for the very most significant single people titles in the sporting activity's background, and he has one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually won 98 profession singles titles (as well as one in doubles) and also has actually stored the globe No. 1 ranking for a bundled 428 full weeks-- an additional history. Djokovic even led Serbia to its 1st and merely Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later on contacted "the most effective emotion I ever before had in my life as a tennis gamer." However while he's regularly discussed the amount of it means to him to become able to embody his nation and just how much he delights in the experience of the Olympic Video games, he's merely never managed to equate his typical domination to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his single 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 format-- a noticeable distinction than the best-of-five-sets used through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled 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 fit, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had actually gained his initial major name earlier that period in Melbourne, could not hide his enjoyment after the suit." [I'm] incredibly happy. I imply, to gain any medal in the Olympics is a significant achievement for any kind of sportsmen I presume," Djokovic mentioned. "Very few of the sportsmens obtain a chance to gain a medal. However, for me, this bronze, which I won below, radiates like a gold because I presume I have actually participated in fair ping pong all event." Djokovic additionally participated in increases alongside Nenad Zimonjic, yet both lost in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Slam champ, was called Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He explained it as "an out-of-body expertise" and a "huge delight and task and also honor." The competitors was held at Wimbledon, where he had gained the title the year before, but Djokovic dropped to resulting gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic dropped once more in the preliminary of doubles, this time around with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was particularly frustrating, since he had won all three major headlines held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years in the future the hard court in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (and also currently a 12-time significant champ) but he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic dropped in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no reduction hurt harder than in 2021. Competing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic showed up after gaining all three of the year's Bangs. He performed a journey to participate in only Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in background to achieve the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary labels as well as an Olympic songs gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- yet again-- Djokovic had his aspirations shattered through eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had easily taken the very first set 6-1 but then gained only 4 video games in the last two collections. Points got back at much worse in the bronze medal fit against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to handle his emotional states, as well as abused his racket on various occasions. He shed the complement 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards withdrew from the blended doubles bronze-medal fit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later that same time, presenting a remaining shoulder trauma. He had played seven matches in 4 times around draws as well as it seemed it had all caught up to him." I played under medicines, amazing ache and tiredness," Djokovic said.He never managed to receive his season entirely back on the right track and also lost in the ultimate of the United States Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, thwarting his fine-tuned target of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was additionally [an] mentally extremely asking for time frame for me in the last five, 6 months," Djokovic said after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Every little thing was converging for me listed below and type of accumulating all the feelings that I have actually been with. Unfortunately I really did not create it in the ultimate step." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a radically different setting than he remained in three years earlier. Not just has he as yet to gain a Bang this time, but he is actually as yet to succeed a headline of any sort of kind. It's his worst beginning to a season considering that 2006. While he said he possesses no programs to resign, he understands opportunity is actually ending. He will definitely be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open and also the Olympic competition, might additionally show challenging. He injured his knee in the course of the French Open in June as well as was pushed to remove before his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical procedure for a torn median lens in his right 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, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany speculated he would skip the grass-court event to focus on his recovery, and also continue instruction on clay before the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All England Club a full week prior to the main draw started. After many productive as well as pain-free techniques, he played and was impressive throughout his run, showing few signs of soreness or even hampered activity." If an individual informed me I would play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate 3, 4 weeks ago, I would certainly take it for certain," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have actually needed to swiftly adjust to the red clay-based after devoting recent month on grass. The surface areas couldn't be actually much more various-- the clay is substantially slower than the turf-- as well as the method gamers carry on the court is as well. It is going to be actually difficult for also those with no bodily afflictions or traumas. Possibly partially because of this, Djokovic will simply be playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed exhausted and slightly dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was actually certainly not prevented." Let's view just how literally and also emotionally I am actually going to feel. Hopefully I may locate the appropriate ping pong considering that I'm going to require all I possess and more to head to the ultimate of the Olympic Gamings.".