.Jul 28, 2024, 09:46 AM ETLESS THAN TWO hours after his damaging reduction in the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was currently laser-focused on the remainder of the season.Djokovic, 37, had actually just been actually defeated by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4 ), his dreams for a record-breaking 25th major title delayed. However it was actually very clear he was trying to go on as rapidly as he can when he talked to press reporters at his news conference eventually that afternoon." Well, the Olympic Video Games and United States Open are the 2 large goals for the remainder of the year for me actually," Djokovic claimed. "I am actually wishing I could be at my absolute best [for] those pair of events. That's all I can say right now." Editor's Picks2 RelatedDjokovic's solution must barely happen as an unpleasant surprise considering his virtually unparalleled job and that he is actually the defending champion at the US Open. But he has never rather possessed the same effectiveness at the Olympics. He enters his fifth Video games with simply one medal-- a singles bronze in 2008. Therefore now, 2 full weeks after his disappointing coating at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back in Paris wherefore may be his last Video games, with his eyes bented on the one thing that has actually outruned him throughout his historic occupation: Olympic gold.Djokovic opened dip into Roland Garros on Saturday along with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He will definitely next participate in familiar enemy Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round in chances of getting one action better to his goal." [It is actually so unique to be] portion of the oldest sports activity in the history of sporting activity," Djokovic said to the International Ping pong Alliance in May. "Obviously winning a gold medal or even winning any sort of award for my nation is a wonderful dream and also yearning. It is just one of [my] greatest priorities and also targets for [this] time, there is no secret regarding that." THERE is actually BIT ELSE Djokovic have not obtained in tennis.Since transforming professional in 2003, Djokovic has succeeded the Australian Open 10 times (the best by any type of gamer in the Open age), as well as is actually a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time US Open champion as well as three-time French Open champion. He is matched along with Margaret Court for the very most significant singles labels in the sporting activity's background, and he possesses one of the most in the Open era.Djokovic has actually won 98 career singles headlines (and one in doubles) as well as has held the planet No. 1 position for a consolidated 428 weeks-- yet another record. Djokovic also led Serbia to its initial as well as just Davis Mug label in Belgrade in 2010, something that he later got in touch with "the very best sensation I ever invited my lifestyle as a ping pong gamer." But while he is actually always spoken about the amount of it suggests to him to be capable to exemplify his country and how much he appreciates the take in of the Olympic Gamings, he is actually simply never ever managed to convert his normal authority to sporting activity's largest stage.Djokovic gained the bronze in 2008-- his solitary Olympic medal. AP Photo/Elise AmendolaDuring his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and Nadal. Playing in a best-of-three-sets format-- a significant distinction than the best-of-five-sets used by guys in Grand Slams-- Djokovic spun with the draw until Nadal, the eventual gold champion, defeated him in the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. In the bronze medal match, Djokovic exceeded James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4 ). Djokovic, that had actually gained his initial primary name earlier that season in Melbourne, could not hide his excitement after the complement." [I am actually] extremely delighted. I mean, to gain any sort of medal in the Olympics is actually a massive achievement for any type of professional athlete I presume," Djokovic mentioned. "Few of the sportsmens get an opportunity to succeed an award. But for me, this bronze, which I won below, sparkles like a gold due to the fact that I assume I've played decent ping pong all competition." Djokovic also participated in increases alongside Nenad Zimonjic, but the pair dropped in the very first round.In 2012, Djokovic, after that a five-time Slam champion, was named Serbia's flag-bearer for the opening service. He explained it as "an out-of-body knowledge" as well as a "huge satisfaction and also accountability and also honor." The competition was actually kept at Wimbledon, where he had gained the title the year prior to, however Djokovic dropped to ultimate gold champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets. Djokovic dropped again in the preliminary of doubles, this time around along with Viktor Troicki.Djokovic's reduction in the semifinals at the 2021 Olympics was actually particularly aggravating, because he had actually succeeded all 3 primary headlines had that year. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockFour years later the hard court of law in Rio, Djokovic was the front runner (and right now a 12-time primary champion) however he was stunned through Del Potro in the preliminary. Djokovic and Zimonjic dropped in the second sphere of doubles.But no reduction stung more challenging than in 2021. Contending in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, Djokovic came in after gaining all 3 of the year's Bangs. He got on a quest to sign up with simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the only ping pong gamers in record to obtain the "Golden Bang"-- all 4 major labels and an Olympic songs gold in the very same season.But in the semifinals-- however once more-- Djokovic had his dreams shattered through ultimate gold champion Alexander Zverev. He had easily taken the 1st set 6-1 but after that succeeded just four activities in the last pair of sets. Points got even much worse in the bronze award complement against Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic battled to manage his emotional states, as well as misused his racket on numerous celebrations. He shed the fit 6-4, 6-7 (6 ), 6-3, and afterwards took out coming from the combined doubles bronze-medal fit (along with Nina Stojanovic), slated to begin later that very same time, presenting a left side shoulder injury. He had played 7 suits in 4 days throughout pulls and it appeared it had all caught up to him." I played under medications, incredible ache as well as fatigue," Djokovic said.He never ever had the ability to get his season entirely back on course as well as shed in the last of the United States Open weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, preventing his adjusted target of the schedule Grand Slam." [It] was likewise [an] mentally quite demanding time frame for me in the final 5, six months," Djokovic said after the loss. "Bangs and also Olympics ... Every little thing was coming together for me right here and also kind of gathering all the emotional states that I've been actually through. However I really did not make it in the final measure." DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a substantially different position than he was in 3 years earlier. Certainly not just has he yet to succeed a Bang this period, but he is actually yet to gain a title of any sort of kind. It's his worst beginning to a time due to the fact that 2006. While he stated he possesses no plans to resign, he understands opportunity is actually running out. He will be 41 when the 2028 Olympics begin.And coming back to Roland Garros, the web site of the French Open and also the Olympic competitors, might also show demanding. He wounded his leg throughout the French Open in June as well as was actually pushed to take out in front of his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgical operation for a torn median meniscus in his ideal knee on June 5, in the beginning leaving his standing for Wimbledon in doubt.Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in the ultimate previously this month, and in 2023. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthMany guessed he would certainly pass up the grass-court event to concentrate on his recovery, and continue instruction on clay-based in advance of the Olympics. However Djokovic came to the All of England Nightclub a week prior to the major draw began. After several prosperous as well as pain-free practices, he participated in and went over throughout his run, showing handful of indicators of distress or hindered motion." If an individual informed me I would participate in [in the] Wimbledon ultimate 3, 4 full weeks earlier, I would take it without a doubt," he said.Djokovic and his peers have needed to quickly readjust to the red clay after investing the past month on grass. The areas couldn't be actually much more different-- the clay is actually dramatically slower than the yard-- as well as the means gamers move on the courtroom is actually as well. It will definitely be actually tricky for also those without any physical health problems or even accidents. Possibly partially as a result of this, Djokovic will just be playing in songs at these Games.But while Djokovic seemed to be tired and also slightly dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was not deterred." Permit's observe just how physically and also mentally I am actually visiting feel. Perhaps I can easily discover the right tennis because I'm mosting likely to require all I have and also additional to visit the last of the Olympic Games.".