.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hours after his disastrous loss in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was currently laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually only been actually beat by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his desires for a record-breaking 25th significant title held off. Yet it was actually very clear he was trying to move on as quickly as he could when he spoke to reporters at his press conference later that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Video Games as well as US Open are the 2 significant goals for the rest of the year for me really," Djokovic pointed out. "I'm hoping I could be at my finest [for] those two competitions. That's all I can mention at the moment." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response must hardly come as a surprise considering his virtually unparalleled job and also he is actually the defending champion at the United States Open. Yet he possesses never pretty had the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Gamings along with just one award-- a singles bronze in 2008. Therefore today, 2 weeks after his unsatisfactory appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris for what could be his ultimate Video games, along with his eyes set on the something that has actually shunned him throughout his historic occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up play at Roland Garros on Saturday with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next off participate in familiar foe Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in chances of getting one measure better to his dream." [It's so special to become] portion of the oldest sporting activities activity in the past history of sport," Djokovic told the International Ping pong Federation in May. "Of course gaining a gold award or gaining any type of medal for my country is an excellent want and also longing. It is just one of [my] greatest top priorities and also goals for [this] time, there is actually no secret regarding that." THERE is actually MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic hasn't achieved in tennis.Since switching expert in 2003, Djokovic has won the Australian Open 10 times (the most through any sort of gamer in the Open period), as well as is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champ and also three-time French Open champ. He is matched along with Margaret Court for the most significant single people headlines in the sporting activity's past, as well as he has one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has succeeded 98 career songs headlines (and also one in increases) and has actually kept the planet No. 1 rank for a combined 428 weeks-- one more track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its very first as well as merely Davis Cup title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he eventually got in touch with "the best feeling I ever had in my lifestyle as a tennis player." But while he is actually constantly mentioned how much it suggests to him to become able to exemplify his nation and also how much he delights in the experience of the Olympic Gamings, he is actually simply never been able to equate his regular domination to sport's greatest stage.Djokovic gained the bronze in 2008-- his single Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a significant difference than the best-of-five-sets utilized by males in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled with the draw until Nadal, the ultimate gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had won his very first major name earlier that period in Melbourne, couldn't hide his excitement after the fit." [I am actually] incredibly happy. I suggest, to win any sort of medal in the Olympics is a big achievement for any sort of professional athlete I think," Djokovic mentioned. "Very few of the professional athletes acquire an odds to gain a medal. However, for me, this bronze, which I gained below, shines like a gold because I assume I have actually played decent ping pong all tournament." Djokovic likewise played doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, but both dropped in the 1st round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champ, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position event. He described it as "an out-of-body experience" and also a "big satisfaction and also duty as well as respect." The competitors was secured at Wimbledon, where he had actually gained the title the year just before, but Djokovic shed to resulting gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight collections. Djokovic shed once again in the preliminary of increases, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually especially aggravating, because he had succeeded all three significant titles kept that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years in the future the difficult court of law in Rio, Djokovic was actually the front runner (and now a 12-time major champ) but he was actually stunned by Del Potro in the first round. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic shed in the second around of doubles.But no loss hurt more challenging than in 2021. Completing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic got here after succeeding all three of the year's Slams. He was on a journey to participate in merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in record to accomplish the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 major labels as well as an Olympic singles gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- yet once again-- Djokovic had his desires beat by ultimate gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had actually conveniently taken the 1st set 6-1 however then succeeded just 4 video games in the last two collections. Traits got even much worse in the bronze medal suit against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to regulate his feelings, and also misused his racket on a number of events. He dropped the fit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and then removed coming from the blended multiplies bronze-medal match (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later on that very same time, citing a remaining shoulder injury. He had actually played 7 matches in four days around attracts and it appeared it had actually all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, incredible ache as well as tiredness," Djokovic said.He certainly never was able to acquire his period completely back on course and also lost in the last of the US Open full weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, thwarting his fine-tuned goal of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was likewise [an] emotionally very requiring duration for me in the last 5, six months," Djokovic claimed after the loss. "Slams and Olympics ... Every little thing was coming together for me right here and sort of accumulating all the emotions that I have actually been actually by means of. Sadly I really did not make it in the last measure." DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a drastically various posture than he was in 3 years earlier. Certainly not simply has he yet to win a Slam this time, but he's as yet to win a title of any kind. It's his worst begin to a season considering that 2006. While he said he possesses no plannings to retire, he understands opportunity is ending. He is going to be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the internet site of the French Open as well as the Olympic competition, could likewise verify difficult. He wounded his knee in the course of the French Open in June and was actually forced to take out in front of his quarterfinal match. He went through surgery for a torn median curve in his right leg on June 5, originally leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final earlier this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany guessed he would skip the grass-court tournament to concentrate on his recovery, and also continue instruction on clay in front of the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All England Nightclub a full week prior to the main draw began. After a number of prosperous and pain-free techniques, he played and also went over throughout his run, presenting handful of indicators of discomfort or even hindered activity." If an individual told me I would certainly participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, four full weeks back, I will take it for certain," he said.Djokovic and his peers have actually needed to promptly alter to the red clay after devoting the past month on grass. The surfaces couldn't be even more various-- the clay is actually significantly slower than the turf-- and also the way gamers carry on the court is at the same time. It will certainly be challenging for also those without any physical conditions or even traumas. Probably in part as a result of this, Djokovic is going to only be actually playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared exhausted as well as somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was actually certainly not hindered." Let's view just how actually and mentally I am actually going to feel. With any luck I may locate the right tennis since I'm heading to require all I have as well as additional to head to the final of the Olympic Video games.".