.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hrs after his damaging reduction in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had simply been actually beat by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his aspirations for a record-breaking 25th major title postponed. However it was very clear he was making an effort to go on as promptly as he might when he spoke to press reporters at his news conference eventually that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games as well as United States Open are actually the 2 large goals for the rest of the year for me actually," Djokovic stated. "I'm hoping I may be at my greatest [for] those two tournaments. That's all I can claim today." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response should hardly happen as a shock considering his essentially exceptional profession and that he is actually the standing up for champion at the US Open. Yet he possesses never ever rather possessed the same results at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Gamings with just one award-- a single people bronze in 2008. Thus right now, pair of weeks after his disappointing coating at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore might be his final Games, along with his eyes bented on the one point that has thwarted him throughout his historic occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened dip into Roland Garros on Saturday along with a persuading 6-0, 6-1 success over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next participate in knowledgeable foe Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in chances of acquiring one action deeper to his aspiration." [It's so special to become] aspect of the oldest sports event in the past of sporting activity," Djokovic informed the International Tennis Federation in May. "Of course succeeding a gold award or succeeding any type of award for my nation is a terrific dream and desire. It is one of [my] biggest concerns and targets for [this] season, there is actually no secret about that." THERE is actually LITTLE ELSE Djokovic hasn't attained in tennis.Since transforming professional in 2003, Djokovic has actually won the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the absolute most by any type of gamer in the Open period), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champ as well as three-time French Open champ. He is tied with Margaret Courthouse for the very most significant songs headlines in the sport's record, and also he possesses the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually succeeded 98 occupation songs labels (and also one in doubles) and also has actually kept the world No. 1 position for a bundled 428 full weeks-- another history. Djokovic also led Serbia to its very first and also merely Davis Mug title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later called "the very best feeling I ever had in my life as a ping pong player." But while he's always spoken about the amount of it suggests to him to be able to represent his country as well as just how much he appreciates the experience of the Olympic Gamings, he's simply never ever managed to translate his traditional dominance to sporting activity's most significant stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets format-- a marked difference than the best-of-five-sets used by guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled by means of the draw till Nadal, the possible gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal fit, Djokovic exceeded James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had gained his initial significant name previously that season in Melbourne, couldn't hide his enthusiasm after the fit." [I'm] really pleased. I imply, to succeed any sort of medal in the Olympics is a huge success for any type of sportsmen I assume," Djokovic claimed. "Very few of the professional athletes obtain a possibility to win a medal. But also for me, this bronze, which I succeeded below, beams like a gold since I believe I've played pretty good ping pong all event." Djokovic additionally played multiplies along with Nenad Zimonjic, however the pair shed in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Bang champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening service. He defined it as "an out-of-body knowledge" and a "large satisfaction as well as task as well as honor." The competition was actually kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually won the title the year just before, yet Djokovic lost to possible gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in straight collections. Djokovic lost once again in the preliminary of doubles, this time along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was specifically aggravating, due to the fact that he had gained all 3 primary titles had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years in the future the tough court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (as well as right now a 12-time major champ) but he was stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and Zimonjic dropped in the second sphere of doubles.But no reduction hurt more challenging than in 2021. Competing in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic arrived after gaining all three of the year's Slams. He was on a pursuit to sign up with just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in background to achieve the "Golden Bang"-- all 4 primary labels as well as an Olympic single people gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his dreams shattered through resulting gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had easily taken the 1st collection 6-1 yet after that won simply four video games in the ultimate pair of sets. Things got even worse in the bronze medal complement versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic had a hard time to manage his emotional states, and also misused his racket on various events. He dropped the match 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that removed from the blended doubles bronze-medal suit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin eventually that exact same day, pointing out a left side shoulder injury. He had played 7 fits in 4 days throughout pulls and also it appeared it had actually all caught up to him." I played under medicines, extraordinary pain as well as tiredness," Djokovic said.He never ever was able to acquire his season entirely back on track as well as dropped in the final of the United States Open weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, thwarting his fine-tuned objective of the calendar Grand Slam." [It] was additionally [an] mentally really requiring duration for me in the last 5, six months," Djokovic mentioned after the reduction. "Slams and Olympics ... Everything was actually integrating for me here and also kind of accumulating all the emotions that I've been via. Sadly I failed to create it in the last step." DJOKOVIC NOW Goes Back To the Olympics in a significantly different position than he was in three years ago. Not only possesses he yet to win a Slam this period, but he's as yet to gain a title of any kind. It's his worst begin to a period given that 2006. While he mentioned he possesses no plannings to resign, he knows time is actually going out. He will certainly be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And returning to Roland Garros, the site of the French Open and the Olympic competition, can additionally verify difficult. He hurt his leg during the course of the French Open in June as well as was actually pushed to withdraw in advance of his quarterfinal match. He went through surgical operation for a torn medial meniscus in his ideal leg on June 5, at first leaving his status for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the final earlier this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany hypothesized he will skip the grass-court event to concentrate on his recovery, and proceed instruction on clay-based before the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All of England Nightclub a full week before the major draw started. After a number of successful and also pain-free practices, he played and also was impressive throughout his operate, showing couple of indicators of discomfort or hampered motion." If a person told me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon final 3, 4 full weeks ago, I would certainly take it for sure," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have needed to promptly adjust to the reddish clay after devoting the past month on grass. The surfaces could not be actually even more various-- the clay-based is actually dramatically slower than the lawn-- and the technique gamers go on the courthouse is actually too. It will certainly be tricky for even those without bodily disorders or even accidents. Maybe partly as a result of this, Djokovic is going to merely be actually playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed tired and somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was certainly not discouraged." Allow's find how actually and also psychologically I am actually going to experience. With any luck I may discover the best ping pong given that I'm heading to require all I have and also additional to head to the ultimate of the Olympic Gamings.".