.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hours after his devastating reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was presently laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually simply been actually beat by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his desires for a record-breaking 25th significant title postponed. Yet it was clear he was trying to proceed as rapidly as he can when he talked to press reporters at his news conference later that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Gamings and United States Open are the 2 significant targets for the rest of the year for me definitely," Djokovic stated. "I am actually hoping I may be at my finest [for] those 2 competitions. That's all I may mention at this moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response ought to barely come as an unpleasant surprise considering his essentially exceptional job and that he is actually the defending champion at the United States Open. However he possesses never ever pretty had the exact same results at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Video games with only one award-- a single people bronze in 2008. Thus right now, pair of full weeks after his frustrating surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris for what could be his final Games, along with his eyes bented on the a single thing that has outruned him throughout his historic profession: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Saturday with an effective 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will next participate in knowledgeable opponent Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in hopes of getting one action more detailed to his aspiration." [It is actually therefore special to be] component of the oldest sporting activities event in the history of sporting activity," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Certainly winning a gold award or winning any kind of medal for my country is actually a fantastic want and longing. It is one of [my] ultimate priorities and also objectives for [this] period, there is actually clear concerning that." THERE is actually LITTLE ELSE Djokovic have not obtained in tennis.Since transforming specialist in 2003, Djokovic has gained the Australian Open 10 times (the most by any player in the Open period), and also is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champion and also three-time French Open champ. He is actually matched with Margaret Courthouse for the most significant singles titles in the sporting activity's background, and he possesses the most in the Open era.Djokovic has succeeded 98 job singles labels (and one in multiplies) as well as has actually kept the globe No. 1 position for a consolidated 428 full weeks-- an additional track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own initial as well as merely Davis Mug headline in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later got in touch with "the best emotion I ever invited my lifestyle as a tennis gamer." Yet while he's constantly mentioned just how much it means to him to be capable to embody his nation as well as the amount of he delights in the take in of the Olympic Games, he's merely never ever had the ability to convert his common dominance to sport's biggest stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a marked variation than the best-of-five-sets used by men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun via the draw until Nadal, the eventual gold medalist, 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, who had won his 1st significant name previously that season in Melbourne, couldn't hide his exhilaration after the fit." [I am actually] very pleased. I mean, to gain any sort of award in the Olympics is a massive accomplishment for any type of professional athlete I assume," Djokovic mentioned. "Few of the professional athletes get a possibility to gain a medal. However, for me, this bronze, which I won listed below, radiates like a gold because I assume I have actually participated in pretty good tennis all competition." Djokovic likewise played increases along with Nenad Zimonjic, however both dropped in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Bang champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body knowledge" and also a "large satisfaction as well as responsibility and also respect." The competition was actually secured at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the label the year prior to, yet Djokovic lost to resulting gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in direct sets. Djokovic shed again in the preliminary of doubles, this time with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was particularly frustrating, since he had actually succeeded all 3 major labels had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later on the challenging court in Rio, Djokovic was the front runner (and also currently a 12-time major champion) yet he was stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic dropped in the 2nd round of doubles.But no loss stung more difficult than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Gamings, Djokovic came in after succeeding all three of the year's Slams. He was on a quest to sign up with simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in past to accomplish the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary labels and an Olympic single people gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his dreams dashed through ultimate gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had simply taken the very first collection 6-1 however at that point succeeded simply 4 games in the last 2 sets. Traits got even much worse in the bronze medal suit against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to handle his emotions, as well as abused his racket on a number of occasions. He lost the match 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that took out from the blended increases bronze-medal complement (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin eventually that very same time, pointing out a remaining shoulder personal injury. He had actually played 7 fits in four times all over pulls and also it appeared it had all caught up to him." I played under medications, unbelievable ache as well as exhaustion," Djokovic said.He never ever managed to obtain his time totally back on course and also shed in the ultimate of the United States Open full weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, combating his adjusted objective of the schedule Conquest." [It] was also [an] emotionally incredibly asking for time period for me in the last five, six months," Djokovic said after the reduction. "Slams and also Olympics ... Everything was actually coming together for me listed here and also type of accumulating all the feelings that I've been actually through. Sadly I failed to make it in the final action." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a drastically different posture than he remained in 3 years ago. Not merely possesses he yet to gain a Slam this season, however he is actually as yet to succeed a headline of any kind of kind. It's his worst begin to a time since 2006. While he claimed he has no plans to retire, he recognizes opportunity is going out. He will definitely be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the site of the French Open and the Olympic competition, could additionally confirm challenging. He wounded his knee during the course of the French Open in June and also was forced to withdraw in front of his quarterfinal suit. He underwent surgical operation for a torn medial meniscus in his appropriate leg on June 5, at first leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final earlier this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he would certainly leave out the grass-court competition to focus on his recovery, as well as carry on training on clay-based in front of the Olympics. But Djokovic arrived at the All of England Club a full week prior to the major draw started. After many effective as well as pain-free practices, he played and also went over throughout his run, showing couple of indications of pain or even obstructed action." If a person informed me I would participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, four weeks back, I would take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and his peers have actually must rapidly readjust to the reddish clay after spending the past month on turf. The areas couldn't be actually a lot more different-- the clay-based is actually significantly slower than the lawn-- and also the means players move on the courtroom is actually too. It will definitely be actually challenging for even those with no physical disorders or even accidents. Probably in part due to this, Djokovic will just be actually playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed tired as well as somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was not deterred." Let's observe how actually and psychologically I'm going to feel. Hopefully I may discover the best tennis because I am actually going to need to have all I possess and more to go to the last of the Olympic Games.".