.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hours after his damaging reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually simply been beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his desires for a record-breaking 25th major name postponed. But it was very clear he was trying to move on as quickly as he could when he spoke to reporters at his press conference later that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Games as well as United States Open are actually both large targets for the rest of the year for me definitely," Djokovic mentioned. "I am actually wishing I may be at my absolute best [for] those pair of tournaments. That is actually all I can easily say at this moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response ought to barely happen as a surprise considering his virtually unrivaled occupation and that he is actually the speaking up for champion at the United States Open. But he has never ever pretty possessed the exact same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games with simply one medal-- a singles bronze in 2008. Thus now, 2 weeks after his frustrating surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris of what might be his ultimate Games, along with his eyes bented on the one thing that has thwarted him throughout his historic occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up play at Roland Garros on Sunday along with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next off play familiar adversary Rafael Nadal in the second shot in chances of getting one measure nearer to his aspiration." [It is actually thus exclusive to be] part of the oldest sporting activities event in the history of sport," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Certainly gaining a gold medal or succeeding any type of award for my nation is a fantastic desire as well as want. It is among [my] best top priorities and goals for [this] time, there is actually no secret regarding that." THERE'S MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic have not obtained in tennis.Since turning qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually succeeded the Australian Open 10 times (the best by any kind of gamer in the Open age), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champion and three-time French Open champion. He is tied with Margaret Court for the very most major single people headlines in the sport's past, as well as he has one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has succeeded 98 job single people headlines (and also one in multiplies) and has kept the planet No. 1 ranking for a combined 428 full weeks-- an additional track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own 1st as well as only Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually got in touch with "the most ideal feeling I ever had in my lifestyle as a tennis gamer." Yet while he is actually always spoken about just how much it means to him to be able to exemplify his nation and how much he delights in the encounter of the Olympic Video games, he is actually just never ever managed to translate his normal dominance to sporting activity's biggest stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his sole Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a marked variation than the best-of-five-sets used through men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled through the draw until Nadal, the possible gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal suit, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had gained his 1st significant title earlier that time in Melbourne, could not hide his exhilaration after the complement." [I am actually] very delighted. I mean, to succeed any type of award in the Olympics is actually a substantial accomplishment for any professional athlete I assume," Djokovic said. "Not many of the athletes get a chance to win an award. However, for me, this bronze, which I succeeded here, sparkles like a gold given that I presume I have actually participated in good tennis all tournament." Djokovic likewise played doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, however the pair dropped in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Slam champ, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body adventure" and also a "significant satisfaction as well as duty as well as tribute." The competitors was actually kept at Wimbledon, where he had succeeded the headline the year prior to, yet Djokovic dropped to eventual gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct sets. Djokovic dropped once more in the first round of increases, this time with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically irritating, considering that he had actually succeeded all 3 major headlines had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years in the future the hard court of law in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (as well as currently a 12-time primary champ) yet he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic and also Zimonjic shed in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no loss stung more challenging than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic arrived after winning all three of the year's Slams. He performed a journey to sign up with simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in background to accomplish the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 significant headlines and an Olympic singles gold in the very same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his desires dashed by eventual gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had actually quickly taken the first collection 6-1 however at that point succeeded only 4 video games in the last pair of sets. Points evened the score worse in the bronze medal fit against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to regulate his emotional states, and misused his racket on multiple occasions. He shed the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards took out coming from the blended doubles bronze-medal match (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start eventually that very same time, mentioning a left shoulder personal injury. He had participated in 7 matches in 4 times throughout pulls as well as it appeared it had all reached him." I participated in under medications, unbelievable pain as well as exhaustion," Djokovic said.He certainly never had the capacity to receive his season entirely back on the right track and dropped in the last of the United States Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his fine-tuned objective of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was additionally [an] mentally very requiring period for me in the final 5, 6 months," Djokovic mentioned after the loss. "Slams and also Olympics ... Every little thing was converging for me here and kind of collecting all the emotions that I have actually been actually via. Regrettably I didn't make it in the ultimate measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a significantly different position than he was in 3 years ago. Certainly not merely has he yet to succeed a Slam this time, however he's as yet to win a label of any kind. It's his worst start to a season because 2006. While he said he has no plannings to retire, he understands opportunity is ending. He will certainly be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the internet site of the French Open and the Olympic competitors, can also verify demanding. He harmed his knee during the course of the French Open in June as well as was actually forced to take out ahead of his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical operation for a torn medial meniscus in his best knee on June 5, originally leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final earlier this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he would skip the grass-court event to pay attention to his recovery, and also continue training on clay-based in advance of the Olympics. But Djokovic got to the All England Nightclub a week before the major draw began. After a number of successful and pain-free methods, he participated in and also was impressive throughout his operate, showing few indications of distress or even hampered movement." If a person informed me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon last 3, 4 full weeks earlier, I would certainly take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have actually must quickly readjust to the red clay-based after spending the past month on grass. The surface areas could not be extra different-- the clay-based is substantially slower than the turf-- and also the technique gamers carry on the courtroom is too. It will definitely be actually tricky for also those with no bodily disorders or even accidents. Perhaps partially as a result of this, Djokovic is going to only be actually playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared weary and also a little dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was certainly not prevented." Let's find exactly how actually as well as emotionally I'm going to experience. Ideally I can discover the ideal ping pong considering that I'm heading to need to have all I possess and additional to go to the last of the Olympic Video games.".