.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN 2 hours after his terrible loss in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was presently laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually just been defeated by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his desires for a record-breaking 25th significant name postponed. However it was actually clear he was actually attempting to go on as promptly as he might when he talked to press reporters at his press conference eventually that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Games as well as United States Open are actually both large goals for the rest of the year for me really," Djokovic claimed. "I am actually wishing I can be at my ideal [for] those two competitions. That is actually all I can easily point out right now." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's response need to barely come as an unpleasant surprise considering his basically unparalleled occupation and that he is actually the speaking up for champ at the US Open. Yet he has never fairly possessed the very same excellence at the Olympics. He enters his 5th Games along with simply one award-- a singles bronze in 2008. So now, pair of weeks after his unsatisfactory appearance at Wimbledon, Djokovic is actually back in Paris for what may be his last Video games, with his eyes set on the one thing that has actually thwarted him throughout his historical profession: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened up dip into Roland Garros on Saturday with an effective 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden. He will next off participate in familiar adversary Rafael Nadal in the 2nd shot in chances of obtaining one action deeper to his goal." [It is actually therefore exclusive to become] portion of the earliest sports celebration in the history of sport," Djokovic told the International Ping pong Alliance in May. "Naturally gaining a gold medal or even succeeding any type of medal for my country is actually a great want and also desire. It is one of [my] greatest priorities and also objectives for [this] period, there is clear regarding that." THERE is actually LITTLE ELSE Djokovic have not attained in tennis.Since turning qualified in 2003, Djokovic has actually gained the Australian Open 10 opportunities (the most through any type of gamer in the Open period), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champ, four-time US Open champion and also three-time French Open champion. He is actually tied with Margaret Courtroom for the very most major single people headlines in the sport's history, as well as he possesses the absolute most outdoors era.Djokovic has actually succeeded 98 job singles headlines (and one in doubles) as well as has actually kept the planet No. 1 rank for a consolidated 428 weeks-- yet another track record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its initial and also only Davis Mug title in Belgrade in 2010, something that he eventually phoned "the best emotion I ever had in my lifestyle as a ping pong player." Yet while he's constantly discussed just how much it implies to him to be capable to represent his country and also just how much he appreciates the take in of the Olympic Games, he's just never had the capacity to convert his normal supremacy to sport's most significant stage.Djokovic won the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic medal. 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 style-- a noticeable difference than the best-of-five-sets utilized through men in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun by means of the draw till Nadal, the resulting gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze award fit, Djokovic topped James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually gained his initial significant name earlier that period in Melbourne, could not conceal his excitement after the complement." [I am actually] incredibly pleased. I indicate, to gain any kind of medal in the Olympics is actually a huge achievement for any type of athlete I think," Djokovic pointed out. "Very few of the sportsmens receive an opportunity to win an award. But also for me, this bronze, which I won right here, sparkles like a gold because I assume I've participated in decent ping pong all event." Djokovic also played doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, yet the pair dropped in the first round.In 2012, Djokovic, at that point a five-time Slam champion, was actually named Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening event. He explained it as "an out-of-body experience" and a "large enjoyment and also responsibility and respect." The competition was held at Wimbledon, where he had gained the title the year before, yet Djokovic lost to eventual gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal suit he was up to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic shed once more in the first round of doubles, this time along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's loss in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually particularly frustrating, because he had actually gained all 3 major labels had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the difficult court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the front runner (and now a 12-time significant champion) but he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic as well as Zimonjic lost in the second sphere of doubles.But no loss stung harder than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic got there after winning all three of the year's Bangs. He performed a quest to participate in merely Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in past to obtain the "Golden Bang"-- all four primary labels as well as an Olympic singles gold in the very same season.But in the semifinals-- yet once again-- Djokovic had his dreams dashed through eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had actually easily taken the initial set 6-1 however after that won simply 4 games in the ultimate 2 sets. Traits got even much worse in the bronze medal complement versus Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic strained to manage his emotional states, as well as abused his racket on several occasions. He lost the suit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards withdrew coming from the mixed doubles bronze-medal match (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start eventually that same time, citing a remaining shoulder injury. He had played 7 complements in 4 times all over pulls and also it seemed it had actually all reached him." I participated in under medicines, amazing ache and also exhaustion," Djokovic said.He never had the capacity to get his season completely back on the right track and dropped in the last of the US Open weeks eventually to Daniil Medvedev, obstructing his adjusted goal of the schedule Conquest." [It] was actually likewise [an] emotionally very demanding time period for me in the last five, 6 months," Djokovic pointed out after the loss. "Slams as well as Olympics ... Every thing was actually coming together for me below and also type of collecting all the emotional states that I have actually been actually with. Regrettably I failed to make it in the final action." DJOKOVIC NOW Comes Back To the Olympics in a drastically different setting than he remained in three years ago. Not simply possesses he as yet to succeed a Slam this season, however he is actually yet to gain a title of any type of kind. It's his worst begin to a time since 2006. While he claimed he possesses no strategies to resign, he understands opportunity is ending. He will definitely be actually 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And going back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open and the Olympic competition, can additionally show difficult. He harmed his knee in the course of the French Open in June as well as was forced to take out ahead of his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgery for a torn medial curve in his correct leg on June 5, initially leaving his condition for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, as well as in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany hypothesized he would leave out the grass-court event to pay attention to his treatment, and also continue training on clay before the Olympics. However Djokovic got to the All of England Nightclub a week just before the main draw started. After a number of prosperous and pain-free strategies, he participated in and also was impressive throughout his run, presenting handful of indications of distress or hampered activity." If an individual informed me I will play [in the] Wimbledon final three, four full weeks earlier, I would certainly take it for sure," he said.Djokovic as well as his peers have had to swiftly adjust to the red clay-based after devoting the past month on turf. The areas couldn't be actually even more various-- the clay is actually significantly slower than the turf-- and the technique players go on the courtroom is actually as well. It will definitely be actually difficult for also those without bodily afflictions or even personal injuries. Maybe partly because of this, Djokovic is going to merely be actually playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic appeared tired and also somewhat dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was actually not prevented." Let's observe how physically and mentally I'm mosting likely to really feel. Hopefully I can easily locate the right tennis since I am actually going to require all I possess as well as more to go to the ultimate of the Olympic Games.".