.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hours after his destructive reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was presently laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had just been actually defeated by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his desires for a record-breaking 25th primary title delayed. But it was clear he was actually trying to proceed as rapidly as he might when he talked with reporters at his press conference later on that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Gamings as well as US Open are actually the two big objectives for the remainder of the year for me truly," Djokovic said. "I am actually wishing I could be at my best [for] those pair of tournaments. That is actually all I can say at this moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response need to hardly happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his essentially unequaled career and also he is actually the standing up for champion at the United States Open. However he has certainly never quite possessed the exact same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Gamings with just one award-- a songs bronze in 2008. So right now, two full weeks after his unsatisfying coating at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris for what may be his final Video games, along with his eyes bented on the one thing that has actually avoided him throughout his historic career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up play at Roland Garros on Saturday with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will next off play familiar adversary Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in chances of acquiring one step better to his dream." [It is actually thus unique to become] aspect of the oldest sporting activities activity in the record of sport," Djokovic said to the International Tennis Alliance in May. "Certainly winning a gold award or winning any sort of medal for my nation is actually a terrific want and longing. It is just one of [my] best concerns and targets for [this] period, there is no secret about that." THERE'S LITTLE ELSE Djokovic have not attained in tennis.Since transforming specialist in 2003, Djokovic has actually gained the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the absolute most through any gamer in the Open period), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time United States Open champion and also three-time French Open champion. He is actually tied along with Margaret Courtroom for the very most primary singles labels in the sporting activity's record, as well as he has one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually gained 98 job singles labels (and one in increases) and also has kept the planet No. 1 rank for a mixed 428 full weeks-- one more record. Djokovic even led Serbia to its own first and just Davis Cup label in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually contacted "the best sensation I ever invited my life as a ping pong gamer." But while he's consistently mentioned how much it suggests to him to be able to exemplify his nation and also how much he delights in the experience of the Olympic Games, he's just certainly never had the ability to translate his typical authority to sport's most significant stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his only Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a noticeable variation than the best-of-five-sets used by guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled by means of the draw up until Nadal, the ultimate gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal suit, Djokovic beat James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had gained his initial major name previously that time in Melbourne, could not hide his excitement after the fit." [I am actually] quite satisfied. I imply, to win any kind of medal in the Olympics is actually a massive achievement for any sportsmen I assume," Djokovic stated. "Few of the sportsmens obtain a possibility to gain a medal. But for me, this bronze, which I gained listed below, beams like a gold because I presume I've participated in pretty good ping pong all event." Djokovic likewise participated in multiplies together with Nenad Zimonjic, however both lost in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champion, was actually called Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body expertise" and also a "significant pleasure and also duty and also tribute." The competitors was secured at Wimbledon, where he had actually won the title the year before, however 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 again in the first round of multiplies, this moment along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually particularly irritating, considering that he had succeeded all three significant headlines kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the tough court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (and also currently a 12-time primary champ) however he was stunned by Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic and Zimonjic lost in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no reduction hurt more difficult than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic got here after succeeding all three of the year's Bangs. He performed a quest to sign up with only Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in background to attain the "Golden Bang"-- all four primary titles as well as an Olympic single people gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his desires dashed by eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had conveniently taken the first set 6-1 however at that point succeeded only 4 games in the final 2 collections. Things got even worse in the bronze medal match versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to manage his feelings, as well as abused his racket on a number of events. He dropped the fit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that removed coming from the mixed increases bronze-medal fit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later on that exact same day, citing a remaining shoulder trauma. He had participated in 7 suits in four days throughout attracts and also it appeared it had actually all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, extraordinary ache and tiredness," Djokovic said.He certainly never had the ability to get his time fully back on course as well as lost in the final of the US Open weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his altered target of the schedule Conquest." [It] was actually also [an] mentally very demanding time period for me in the final 5, 6 months," Djokovic pointed out after the reduction. "Slams as well as Olympics ... Whatever was actually coming together for me below and also sort of accumulating all the emotions that I've been actually through. Regrettably I failed to create it in the last action." DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a substantially different placement than he resided in three years ago. Not just possesses he yet to win a Bang this season, however he's as yet to gain a headline of any kind of kind. It's his worst beginning to a period considering that 2006. While he mentioned he has no strategies to retire, he knows time is running out. He will definitely be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the website of the French Open and also the Olympic competition, might likewise prove demanding. He harmed his leg during the course of the French Open in June and was actually forced to take out before his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical operation for a torn medial lens in his best knee on June 5, initially leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final previously this month, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany guessed he will skip the grass-court tournament to pay attention to his rehab, as well as proceed instruction on clay-based in advance of the Olympics. But Djokovic reached the All of England Nightclub a week before the primary draw started. After a number of effective and also pain-free practices, he played and was impressive throughout his operate, presenting couple of indicators of discomfort or even hindered action." If an individual informed me I will participate in [in the] Wimbledon last 3, 4 full weeks back, I will take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have had to rapidly adjust to the reddish clay after spending recent month on grass. The surface areas couldn't be actually extra various-- the clay is actually significantly slower than the turf-- as well as the means gamers move on the courthouse is actually also. It will be actually difficult for even those with no bodily ailments or injuries. Maybe in part because of this, Djokovic is going to merely be playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed exhausted and also a little dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was actually certainly not deterred." Permit's view just how actually and also mentally I am actually going to really feel. Perhaps I can discover the best tennis considering that I'm going to need all I have as well as additional to go to the final of the Olympic Games.".