.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hrs after his dreadful reduction in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was presently 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 major title postponed. Yet it was crystal clear he was actually trying to carry on as rapidly as he could when he talked with media reporters at his press conference later on that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games and also US Open are actually the two significant goals for the remainder of the year for me really," Djokovic said. "I'm hoping I could be at my absolute best [for] those pair of competitions. That's all I may say now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response should rarely happen as a surprise considering his essentially unparalleled career and that he's the speaking up for champion at the US Open. But he possesses never ever quite possessed the same success at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games with simply one award-- a songs bronze in 2008. Therefore now, 2 full weeks after his unsatisfying finish at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris for what might be his last Games, along with his eyes bented on the a single thing that has actually thwarted him throughout his historical occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Sunday with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He is going to next off participate in familiar enemy Rafael Nadal in the second shot in hopes of obtaining one step closer to his goal." [It's so exclusive to be] part of the earliest sporting activities celebration in the history of sporting activity," Djokovic said to the International Tennis Federation in May. "Of course gaining a gold medal or succeeding any type of award for my nation is actually an excellent want as well as dream. It is among [my] ultimate priorities and also goals for [this] season, there is clear concerning that." THERE'S MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic hasn't accomplished in tennis.Since switching expert in 2003, Djokovic has actually gained the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the absolute most by any kind of player in the Open age), and also is a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time United States Open champion as well as three-time French Open champion. He is actually matched along with Margaret Courthouse for the most significant singles headlines in the sport's record, and he possesses the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually won 98 career singles labels (and also one in multiplies) and has kept the world No. 1 position for a mixed 428 full weeks-- an additional record. Djokovic even led Serbia to its first and also just Davis Cup headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later on called "the best emotion I ever had in my life as a tennis player." Yet while he is actually regularly discussed just how much it implies to him to be able to exemplify his country and also just how much he appreciates the encounter of the Olympic Games, he is actually merely never had the capacity to equate his traditional authority to sport's biggest stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his only Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer as well as Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets format-- a noticeable difference than the best-of-five-sets utilized by guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled with the draw up until Nadal, the ultimate gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award fit, Djokovic exceeded James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had won his initial major title previously that time in Melbourne, couldn't conceal his pleasure after the complement." [I'm] extremely satisfied. I suggest, to gain any type of medal in the Olympics is a substantial accomplishment for any kind of professional athlete I assume," Djokovic pointed out. "Not many of the professional athletes obtain an odds to win an award. However, for me, this bronze, which I gained listed here, beams like a gold due to the fact that I assume I've played good tennis all tournament." Djokovic additionally participated in increases along with Nenad Zimonjic, yet the pair shed in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champ, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position event. He defined it as "an out-of-body adventure" and also a "huge enjoyment and duty and also tribute." The competitors was secured at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the label the year just before, however Djokovic lost to eventual gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in direct collections. Djokovic dropped once again in the first round of multiplies, this time around with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically irritating, considering that he had actually gained all three significant labels held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the hard court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (and currently a 12-time primary champion) yet he was actually stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic shed in the 2nd sphere of doubles.But no loss stung more challenging than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic showed up after winning all 3 of the year's Bangs. He performed a pursuit to sign up with just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis players in history to achieve the "Golden Bang"-- all four primary titles as well as an Olympic singles gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his desires beat by possible gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had easily taken the initial collection 6-1 yet at that point gained simply 4 video games in the last pair of collections. Factors evened the score much worse in the bronze medal suit against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to handle his emotional states, as well as abused his racket on several affairs. He lost the fit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards removed from the combined doubles bronze-medal suit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later that same day, presenting a remaining shoulder personal injury. He had played seven fits in 4 days around draws and also it seemed it had actually all reached him." I participated in under medicines, incredible pain and fatigue," Djokovic said.He never ever had the capacity to obtain his time entirely back on the right track as well as dropped in the final of the US Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his adjusted target of the schedule Conquest." [It] was actually likewise [an] psychologically quite requiring duration for me in the last 5, 6 months," Djokovic mentioned after the reduction. "Bangs and also Olympics ... Every little thing was actually integrating for me right here and type of accumulating all the feelings that I've been via. However I didn't create it in the last action." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a significantly various posture than he resided in three years back. Not simply possesses he yet to succeed a Bang this time, yet he's as yet to succeed a title of any type of kind. It's his worst beginning to a season due to the fact that 2006. While he said he has no plans to retire, he recognizes opportunity is actually ending. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open and the Olympic competitors, could possibly additionally prove daunting. He hurt his knee during the course of the French Open in June and was forced to remove in front of his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgery for a torn medial crescent in his right knee on June 5, initially leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic shed to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the last previously this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he will leave out the grass-court competition to focus on his recovery, and also proceed training on clay before the Olympics. Yet Djokovic reached the All England Nightclub a full week just before the major draw started. After several effective as well as pain-free methods, he participated in as well as was impressive throughout his run, revealing couple of indicators of discomfort or hindered movement." If someone told me I would play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate 3, 4 full weeks earlier, I would certainly take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and his peers have needed to rapidly readjust to the reddish clay-based after investing the past month on yard. The surfaces couldn't be actually extra different-- the clay-based is actually considerably slower than the yard-- and also the way players move on the court is actually also. It will be actually difficult for even those with no bodily health problems or injuries. Probably partly as a result of this, Djokovic will only be playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed tired and also a little dejected after the Wimbledon final, he was not hindered." Allow's find exactly how physically and also emotionally I am actually going to feel. With any luck I can locate the appropriate ping pong because I'm going to require all I have and additional to head to the final of the Olympic Gamings.".