.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hrs after his damaging reduction in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic was currently laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually just been actually beat through Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his dreams for a record-breaking 25th major name delayed. However it was actually very clear he was actually attempting to go on as rapidly as he can when he talked with media reporters at his press conference later that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Gamings and US Open are the two large goals for the rest of the year for me actually," Djokovic claimed. "I'm hoping I may be at my greatest [for] those pair of events. That is actually all I can claim today." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's solution should rarely happen as a shock considering his basically unrivaled occupation and that he's the defending champ at the US Open. But he has certainly never quite possessed the exact same success at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Gamings with just one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. Thus now, 2 weeks after his disappointing finish at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore may be his last Gamings, with his eyes bented on the something that has actually avoided him throughout his historic job: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Saturday with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next participate in knowledgeable adversary Rafael Nadal in the second shot in hopes of getting one measure deeper to his goal." [It's therefore exclusive to become] portion of the oldest sports occasion in the background of sporting activity," Djokovic said to the International Ping pong Federation in May. "Obviously winning a gold award or winning any medal for my nation is an excellent dream and longing. It is among [my] greatest concerns and also targets for [this] period, there is clear concerning that." THERE'S BIT ELSE Djokovic have not attained in tennis.Since transforming qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually won the Australian Open 10 opportunities (one of the most through any type of player outdoors time), and is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champ as well as three-time French Open champ. He is actually tied along with Margaret Courtroom for the very most significant singles headlines in the sport's history, and he has one of the most outdoors era.Djokovic has actually won 98 career singles labels (and also one in increases) and also has held the world No. 1 ranking for a consolidated 428 weeks-- an additional track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its first as well as simply Davis Mug headline in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually phoned "the most ideal emotion I ever had in my lifestyle as a ping pong gamer." But while he is actually consistently spoken about the amount of it implies to him to be capable to embody his country as well as the amount of he enjoys the take in of the Olympic Video games, he is actually simply certainly never managed to convert his traditional prominence to sport's most significant stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a marked variation than the best-of-five-sets used by males in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled by means of the draw up until Nadal, the possible gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award suit, Djokovic beat James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had gained his initial primary name previously that time in Melbourne, could not conceal his enjoyment after the complement." [I am actually] incredibly pleased. I mean, to win any medal in the Olympics is a big achievement for any professional athlete I believe," Djokovic pointed out. "Few of the professional athletes receive an odds to win an award. But also for me, this bronze, which I gained listed below, beams like a gold given that I think I've participated in fair ping pong all competition." Djokovic additionally participated in doubles together with Nenad Zimonjic, but the pair dropped in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Slam champ, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position service. He illustrated it as "an out-of-body knowledge" as well as a "huge satisfaction as well as duty and respect." The competition was actually kept at Wimbledon, where he had gained the headline the year before, but Djokovic lost to possible gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic lost once more in the first round of multiplies, this time with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually especially irritating, given that he had succeeded all three primary labels held that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later on the tough court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the front runner (as well as currently a 12-time significant champ) but he was actually stunned by Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and also Zimonjic dropped in the second around of doubles.But no reduction hurt harder than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic arrived after succeeding all 3 of the year's Bangs. He was on a pursuit to participate in only Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis players in record to attain the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary labels and an Olympic single people gold in the exact same season.But in the semifinals-- yet once more-- Djokovic had his goals slammed through ultimate gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually effortlessly taken the 1st set 6-1 yet after that gained only four activities in the final two collections. Factors got back at much worse in the bronze medal suit versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to manage his emotional states, and misused his racket on several events. He shed the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that withdrew from the blended increases bronze-medal complement (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start eventually that very same day, presenting a left shoulder injury. He had participated in seven complements in 4 days around pulls and also it seemed it had all caught up to him." I participated in under medications, incredible ache and also exhaustion," Djokovic said.He certainly never was able to get his time fully back on the right track as well as lost in the ultimate of the US Open full weeks later on to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his modified goal of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was also [an] emotionally extremely asking for period for me in the last 5, six months," Djokovic stated after the reduction. "Bangs and also Olympics ... Everything was actually integrating for me listed here and sort of gathering all the emotions that I've been actually by means of. Sadly I didn't create it in the ultimate step." DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a drastically various placement than he was in three years back. Not simply possesses he as yet to gain a Bang this time, yet he is actually yet to succeed a label of any sort of kind. It's his worst begin to a period due to the fact that 2006. While he said he possesses no plannings to retire, he knows time is actually running out. 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 competitors, can also confirm demanding. He injured his leg during the French Open in June and also was pushed to take out before his quarterfinal suit. He underwent surgery for a torn median lens in his best knee on June 5, at first leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic dropped to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate earlier this month, and also in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany supposed he will neglect the grass-court competition to pay attention to his rehabilitation, and also continue instruction on clay in front of the Olympics. Yet Djokovic came to the All England Club a full week before the main draw started. After numerous effective and pain-free practices, he participated in and also was impressive throughout his operate, presenting handful of indicators of soreness or hampered activity." If an individual informed me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon final 3, four weeks earlier, I will take it for certain," he said.Djokovic and also his peers have actually must swiftly readjust to the red clay after spending recent month on turf. The surfaces couldn't be much more different-- the clay-based is actually dramatically slower than the lawn-- and the technique players carry on the court is at the same time. It will definitely be actually complicated for even those without physical ailments or even accidents. Perhaps partly as a result of this, Djokovic will simply be playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed tired as well as slightly dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was actually certainly not discouraged." Permit's see just how physically as well as mentally I am actually mosting likely to experience. Hopefully I can discover the right ping pong since I am actually heading to need all I have and also additional to visit the final of the Olympic Video games.".