.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hours after his damaging loss in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was actually already laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had just 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 actually very clear he was actually making an effort to carry on as promptly as he could when he contacted reporters at his press conference eventually that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Video Games and US Open are actually the 2 significant targets for the remainder of the year for me truly," Djokovic said. "I am actually wishing I can be at my greatest [for] those 2 competitions. That is actually all I can easily claim now." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's answer should hardly happen as a shock considering his virtually exceptional job which he's the speaking up for champion at the United States Open. But he has never quite had the same success at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Games with only one medal-- a songs bronze in 2008. Thus now, two full weeks after his unsatisfactory surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore may be his ultimate Video games, with his eyes set on the something that has actually thwarted him throughout his historical profession: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Saturday with a prodding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will certainly next off play familiar enemy Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in hopes of receiving one step closer to his dream." [It's therefore unique to be] aspect of the earliest sports event in the history of sporting activity," Djokovic said to the International Tennis Alliance in May. "Obviously gaining a gold award or gaining any kind of medal for my country is actually a great desire and also yearning. It is just one of [my] best priorities and targets for [this] time, there is actually clear concerning that." THERE is actually MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic have not attained in tennis.Since transforming specialist in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 times (the absolute most by any sort of gamer outdoors period), and also is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time United States Open champ and three-time French Open champion. He is tied with Margaret Court for the very most significant songs headlines in the sporting activity's background, and also he has the absolute most outdoors era.Djokovic has actually succeeded 98 job singles headlines (and also one in increases) as well as has stored the planet No. 1 position for a consolidated 428 weeks-- an additional track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its own initial and also only Davis Mug label in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he eventually got in touch with "the most ideal sensation I ever invited my lifestyle as a tennis gamer." However while he is actually always referred to just how much it suggests to him to become capable to represent his country as well as how much he appreciates the take in of the Olympic Games, he is actually simply never managed to translate his normal supremacy to sporting activity's greatest stage.Djokovic gained the bronze in 2008-- his lone Olympic award. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic launching in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was actually the No. 3 seed, responsible for Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets layout-- a marked distinction than the best-of-five-sets utilized by men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled through the draw till Nadal, the possible gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award match, Djokovic topped James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually gained his very first significant name earlier that time in Melbourne, could not hide his enthusiasm after the complement." [I'm] very happy. I suggest, to gain any sort of medal in the Olympics is actually a substantial success for any type of athlete I presume," Djokovic stated. "Few of the professional athletes acquire a possibility to win a medal. However, for me, this bronze, which I won listed here, radiates like a gold considering that I believe I have actually played good ping pong all tournament." Djokovic additionally played doubles along with Nenad Zimonjic, yet both shed in the initial round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champ, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the position ceremony. He described it as "an out-of-body adventure" and also a "significant delight and task as well as tribute." The competitors was kept at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the label the year prior to, but Djokovic lost to ultimate gold medalist Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight collections. Djokovic shed once more in the first round of multiplies, this moment with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was especially aggravating, given that he had actually won all 3 primary labels had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the hard court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the top seed (as well as currently a 12-time primary champion) but he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic shed in the second around of doubles.But no reduction hurt harder than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic arrived after succeeding all 3 of the year's Slams. He was on a pursuit to participate in just Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only tennis players in history to obtain the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary titles and an Olympic single people gold in the very same season.But in the semifinals-- however once again-- Djokovic had his aspirations dashed through eventual gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had easily taken the first set 6-1 yet after that won simply 4 activities in the last 2 collections. Factors evened the score much worse in the bronze award complement versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to handle his feelings, and misused his racket on several celebrations. He lost the match 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and then removed from the combined multiplies bronze-medal fit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later on that exact same day, mentioning a remaining shoulder personal injury. He had actually participated in seven fits in 4 times all over draws and also it seemed it had actually all caught up to him." I played under medicines, extraordinary pain and also tiredness," Djokovic said.He certainly never managed to acquire his period completely back on the right track as well as lost in the ultimate of the US Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his fine-tuned target of the schedule Conquest." [It] was actually also [an] mentally really demanding time period for me in the final 5, 6 months," Djokovic claimed after the loss. "Bangs and also Olympics ... Everything was collaborating for me listed below as well as type of gathering all the emotional states that I've been actually via. Sadly I failed to create it in the final measure." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a substantially different setting than he remained in 3 years earlier. Certainly not only has he yet to succeed a Bang this period, yet he is actually yet to gain a headline of any kind of kind. It's his worst start to a season because 2006. While he said he possesses no strategies to resign, he knows opportunity is actually running out. He will 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, could also show demanding. He injured his knee in the course of the French Open in June and also was actually pushed to withdraw before his quarterfinal match. He undertook surgical operation for a torn median meniscus in his ideal knee on June 5, at first 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 pass up the grass-court tournament to focus on his treatment, as well as continue instruction on clay-based ahead of the Olympics. But Djokovic came to the All of England Club a week before the major draw began. After several effective and pain-free strategies, he played and also was impressive throughout his operate, presenting handful of indicators of pain or hindered movement." If someone told me I would certainly play [in the] Wimbledon last 3, four weeks ago, I would take it for certain," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have needed to swiftly alter to the red clay-based after spending the past month on yard. The surface areas could not be actually even more various-- the clay-based is significantly slower than the lawn-- and the method players move on the court is actually also. It will certainly be actually tricky for even those without bodily disorders or traumas. Possibly partly as a result of this, Djokovic is going to just be playing in singles at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared tired and slightly dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was not put off." Permit's find exactly how actually and also emotionally I am actually going to experience. Hopefully I can easily discover the appropriate ping pong due to the fact that I am actually going to need all I have and also even more to go to the final of the Olympic Video games.".