.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hours after his disastrous reduction in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was presently laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually only been actually defeated by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his dreams for a record-breaking 25th primary title held off. Yet it was crystal clear he was actually making an effort to go on as rapidly as he might when he talked to reporters at his press conference later that mid-day." Well, the Olympic Video Games and also US Open are actually both significant objectives for the remainder of the year for me actually," Djokovic said. "I'm hoping I can be at my finest [for] those two tournaments. That is actually all I can mention right now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's solution should barely come as an unpleasant surprise considering his virtually unparalleled career and that he is actually the speaking up for champion at the United States Open. Yet he possesses never ever very had the very same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Video games with just one medal-- a singles bronze in 2008. Therefore today, pair of weeks after his unsatisfying appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore may be his last Gamings, along with his eyes set on the something that has avoided him throughout his historical career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened dip into Roland Garros on Saturday with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 success over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next off participate in familiar adversary Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in hopes of receiving one action better to his aspiration." [It is actually therefore exclusive to become] component of the earliest sports celebration in the record of sport," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Of course winning a gold award or even winning any kind of award for my country is a fantastic wish and also desire. It is among [my] biggest concerns and targets for [this] period, there is actually clear about that." THERE is actually LITTLE ELSE Djokovic hasn't achieved in tennis.Since transforming qualified in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the absolute most by any sort 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 along with Margaret Courthouse for the most primary single people titles in the sporting activity's history, and he possesses the most in the Open era.Djokovic has succeeded 98 career single people labels (as well as one in doubles) and has actually held the planet No. 1 rank for a consolidated 428 full weeks-- one more history. Djokovic even led Serbia to its initial as well as just Davis Cup title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later phoned "the most effective sensation I ever before invited my life as a ping pong gamer." But while he is actually constantly spoken about how much it implies to him to become able to embody his nation as well as just how much he delights in the experience of the Olympic Games, he is actually just never ever managed to convert his common prominence to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic gained the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer as well as Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a marked distinction than the best-of-five-sets made use of through males in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun by means of the draw up until Nadal, the possible gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic bested James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually won his first significant title previously that period in Melbourne, couldn't hide his exhilaration after the suit." [I am actually] extremely delighted. I indicate, to succeed any kind of award in the Olympics is actually a massive achievement for any kind of athlete I think," Djokovic mentioned. "Very few of the professional athletes acquire an odds to win a medal. But for me, this bronze, which I succeeded listed here, shines like a gold considering that I believe I have actually participated in good ping pong all competition." Djokovic additionally played multiplies along with Nenad Zimonjic, but both dropped in the initial round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champ, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body expertise" and a "huge satisfaction and accountability and honor." The competitors was kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually won the label the year prior to, but Djokovic dropped to ultimate gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in direct sets. Djokovic lost once more in the first round of multiplies, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically aggravating, since he had won all three primary labels kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the hard court in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (and also now a 12-time primary champion) however he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic and Zimonjic shed in the 2nd around of doubles.But no reduction hurt tougher than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Gamings, Djokovic arrived after succeeding all 3 of the year's Slams. He was on a pursuit to join just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis players in history to attain the "Golden Bang"-- all 4 major headlines and also an Olympic single people gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his dreams dashed by ultimate gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had quickly taken the first set 6-1 yet at that point gained just 4 activities in the final pair of sets. Points got even much worse in the bronze medal complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to manage his feelings, and abused his racket on numerous celebrations. He lost the complement 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and then took out from the mixed increases bronze-medal suit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start eventually that exact same time, citing a nigh side shoulder injury. He had actually participated in 7 suits in 4 times throughout attracts and also it seemed it had all reached him." I played under medications, astonishing ache as well as tiredness," Djokovic said.He never ever managed to acquire his time completely back on course and also lost in the final of the US Open full weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his altered goal of the calendar Conquest." [It] was additionally [an] mentally really asking for period for me in the last five, 6 months," Djokovic mentioned after the reduction. "Bangs and Olympics ... Every thing was actually converging for me listed below as well as sort of accumulating all the emotional states that I've been actually via. Sadly I really did not create it in the last step." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a radically different placement than he resided in three years back. Certainly not only has he yet to succeed a Bang this season, yet he's yet to succeed a title of any sort of kind. It's his worst start to a season since 2006. While he said he possesses no programs to retire, he recognizes opportunity is actually running out. He will be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open as well as the Olympic competition, can additionally prove demanding. He wounded his leg during the course of the French Open in June as well as was actually forced to remove before his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical treatment for a torn medial curve in his correct knee on June 5, in the beginning leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final previously this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he will pass up the grass-court event to pay attention to his treatment, and continue instruction on clay before the Olympics. Yet Djokovic came to the All England Club a full week prior to the major draw started. After a number of successful and pain-free strategies, he played and was impressive throughout his operate, revealing couple of signs of distress or even hampered motion." If a person told me I will play [in the] Wimbledon last three, four weeks back, I would take it for certain," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have needed to rapidly alter to the reddish clay-based after spending the past month on yard. The surface areas could not be a lot more various-- the clay-based is considerably slower than the grass-- and the technique players move on the court is actually too. It will be actually tricky for also those without any physical disorders or even traumas. Maybe partly as a result of this, Djokovic will merely be actually playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed to be tired and also slightly dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was certainly not discouraged." Permit's view how literally and emotionally I am actually going to feel. Perhaps I can easily locate the ideal tennis because I am actually going to need all I possess as well as additional to visit the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.".