.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN pair of hours after his terrible reduction in the Wimbledon last, Novak Djokovic was actually currently laser-focused on the rest of the season.Djokovic, 37, had merely been beat by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his goals for a record-breaking 25th significant name delayed. But it was actually crystal clear he was actually attempting to proceed as swiftly as he might when he contacted reporters at his press conference later on that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Gamings and also US Open are actually the 2 large objectives for the rest of the year for me really," Djokovic mentioned. "I am actually wishing I can be at my absolute best [for] those two events. That's all I can state today." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's solution must rarely come as a surprise considering his basically unrivaled job which he's the defending champion at the United States Open. Yet he has never rather possessed the exact same results at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Video games with only one award-- a single people bronze in 2008. So now, 2 weeks after his unsatisfactory surface at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris wherefore may be his ultimate Video games, with his eyes set on the something that has actually avoided him throughout his historical career: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up play at Roland Garros on Saturday along with an effective 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next play familiar opponent Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in chances of obtaining one measure more detailed to his aspiration." [It's thus special to be] part of the earliest sports event in the history of sporting activity," Djokovic said to the International Ping pong Alliance in May. "Of course winning a gold award or winning any type of medal for my country is a fantastic wish as well as want. It is one of [my] biggest concerns and also objectives for [this] period, there is actually clear concerning that." THERE'S MINIMAL ELSE Djokovic have not obtained in tennis.Since turning professional in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the most by any type of player in the Open age), as well as is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time US Open champion and also three-time French Open champion. He is actually matched with Margaret Courtroom for the very most significant singles labels in the sport's history, as well as he possesses the absolute most outdoors era.Djokovic has actually won 98 career songs headlines (and one in increases) as well as has stored the globe No. 1 position for a bundled 428 weeks-- one more record. Djokovic even led Serbia to its initial as well as just Davis Mug title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later on got in touch with "the very best sensation I ever before invited my life as a ping pong gamer." But while he's consistently mentioned how much it implies to him to become capable to represent his country and just how much he takes pleasure in the encounter of the Olympic Video games, he's merely never ever had the ability to convert his traditional supremacy to sporting activity's greatest stage.Djokovic succeeded the bronze in 2008-- his lone 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 also Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets style-- a significant variation than the best-of-five-sets used through guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic rolled by means of the draw until Nadal, the resulting gold medalist, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal complement, Djokovic surpassed James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, who had gained his very first major name earlier that time in Melbourne, could not hide his pleasure after the match." [I am actually] quite satisfied. I imply, to succeed any sort of medal in the Olympics is a substantial success for any kind of sportsmen I presume," Djokovic stated. "Very few of the professional athletes acquire an opportunity to win an award. But also for me, this bronze, which I won here, radiates like a gold due to the fact that I assume I've participated in respectable tennis all competition." Djokovic also played doubles together with Nenad Zimonjic, but both shed in the initial round.In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Slam champion, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening service. He explained it as "an out-of-body knowledge" and also a "significant delight and also accountability as well as tribute." The competition was held at Wimbledon, where he had actually succeeded the headline the year before, however Djokovic dropped to eventual 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 preliminary of multiplies, this time with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually specifically aggravating, because he had gained all 3 major headlines had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years eventually the hard court in Rio, Djokovic was actually the top seed (as well as currently a 12-time significant champ) however he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as 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 showed up after winning all three of the year's Slams. He was on a pursuit to participate in merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong players in record to accomplish the "Golden Slam"-- all 4 primary labels and an Olympic singles gold in the same season.But in the semifinals-- however again-- Djokovic had his goals dashed by resulting gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had actually simply taken the initial collection 6-1 but after that gained merely 4 activities in the last 2 sets. Points got back at worse in the bronze award complement versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic struggled to control his feelings, and abused his racket on multiple events. He lost the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and after that withdrew coming from the combined doubles bronze-medal fit (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later on that exact same time, pointing out a left side shoulder injury. He had participated in seven fits in 4 days across pulls as well as it seemed it had actually all reached him." I played under medicines, astonishing pain and tiredness," Djokovic said.He never had the ability to acquire his season entirely back on the right track and shed in the ultimate of the United States Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, combating his fine-tuned goal of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was also [an] mentally extremely requiring duration for me in the final five, six months," Djokovic claimed after the loss. "Bangs and Olympics ... Every little thing was coming together for me listed here as well as sort of building up all the emotional states that I have actually been by means of. However I really did not make it in the final action." DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a substantially different position than he remained in three years earlier. Not only has he as yet to succeed a Slam this season, yet he is actually yet to win a label of any kind of kind. It's his worst begin to a period since 2006. While he said he has no plans to retire, he understands time is ending. He will definitely 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 likewise confirm difficult. He hurt his knee during the course of the French Open in June and also was forced to withdraw ahead of his quarterfinal suit. He went through surgical operation for a torn medial meniscus in his correct knee on June 5, originally leaving his standing 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 guessed he will skip the grass-court event to focus on his recovery, and continue instruction on clay before the Olympics. However Djokovic arrived at the All of England Club a full week just before the major draw started. After numerous successful and pain-free methods, he participated in and also went over throughout his run, showing couple of indicators of pain or obstructed movement." If somebody told me I would certainly participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 full weeks ago, I will take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have actually must quickly adjust to the red clay after devoting the past month on turf. The surfaces couldn't be extra different-- the clay-based is actually considerably slower than the turf-- and also the way gamers carry on the courthouse is at the same time. It will be tricky for also those with no bodily conditions or injuries. Probably in part as a result of this, Djokovic is going to only be playing in single people at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared exhausted and also slightly dejected after the Wimbledon last, he was actually not discouraged." Allow's see exactly how actually as well as emotionally I am actually visiting really feel. Hopefully I can find the ideal ping pong because I'm mosting likely to need all I have and also more to head to the final of the Olympic Video games.".