LESS THAN TWO hours after his devastating loss within the Wimbledon ultimate, Novak Djokovic was already laser-focused on the remainder of the season.
Djokovic, 37, had simply been defeated by Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4), his desires for a record-breaking twenty fifth main title postponed. Nevertheless it was clear he was attempting to maneuver on as shortly as he may when he spoke to reporters at his information convention later that afternoon.
“Effectively, the Olympic Video games and US Open are the 2 massive targets for the remainder of the 12 months for me actually,” Djokovic stated. “I am hoping I may be at my finest [for] these two tournaments. That is all I can say proper now.”
Djokovic’s reply ought to hardly come as a shock contemplating his nearly unparalleled profession and that he is the defending champion on the US Open. However he has by no means fairly had the identical success on the Olympics. He enters his fifth Video games with only one medal — a singles bronze in 2008.
So now, two weeks after his disappointing end at Wimbledon, Djokovic is again in Paris for what could be his ultimate Video games, together with his eyes set on the one factor that has eluded him all through his historic profession: Olympic gold.
Djokovic opened play at Roland Garros on Saturday with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory over Matthew Ebden. He’ll subsequent play acquainted foe Rafael Nadal within the second spherical in hopes of getting one step nearer to his dream.
“[It’s so special to be] a part of the oldest sports activities occasion within the historical past of sport,” Djokovic informed the Worldwide Tennis Federation in Could. “In fact profitable a gold medal or profitable any medal for my nation is a good want and want. It’s considered one of [my] biggest priorities and targets for [this] season, there isn’t any secret about that.”
THERE’S LITTLE ELSE Djokovic hasn’t achieved in tennis.
Since turning skilled in 2003, Djokovic has received the Australian Open 10 occasions (essentially the most by any participant within the Open period), and is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, four-time US Open champion and three-time French Open champion. He’s tied with Margaret Courtroom for essentially the most main singles titles within the sport’s historical past, and he has essentially the most within the Open period.
Djokovic has received 98 profession singles titles (and one in doubles) and has held the world No. 1 rating for a mixed 428 weeks — one other document. Djokovic even led Serbia to its first and solely Davis Cup title in Belgrade in 2010, one thing that he later referred to as “the most effective feeling I ever had in my life as a tennis participant.”
However whereas he is all the time spoken about how a lot it means to him to have the ability to symbolize his nation and the way a lot he enjoys the expertise of the Olympic Video games, he is merely by no means been in a position to translate his typical dominance to sport’s greatest stage.
Throughout his Olympic debut in 2008 in Beijing, Djokovic was the No. 3 seed, behind Roger Federer and Nadal. Enjoying in a best-of-three-sets format — a marked distinction than the best-of-five-sets utilized by males in Grand Slams — Djokovic rolled via the draw till Nadal, the eventual gold medalist, defeated him within the semifinals 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Within the bronze medal match, Djokovic topped James Blake 6-3, 7-6 (4). Djokovic, who had received his first main title earlier that season in Melbourne, could not disguise his pleasure after the match.
“[I’m] very completely happy. I imply, to win any medal within the Olympics is a big achievement for any athlete I believe,” Djokovic stated. “Not most of the athletes get an opportunity to win a medal. However for me, this bronze, which I received right here, shines like a gold as a result of I believe I’ve performed fairly good tennis all match.”
Djokovic additionally performed doubles alongside Nenad Zimonjic, however the pair misplaced within the first spherical.
In 2012, Djokovic, then a five-time Slam champion, was named Serbia’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony. He described it as “an out-of-body expertise” and a “large pleasure and accountability and honor.” The competitors was held at Wimbledon, the place he had received the title the 12 months earlier than, however Djokovic misplaced to eventual gold medalist Andy Murray within the semifinals. Within the bronze-medal match he fell to Juan Martin del Potro in straight units. Djokovic misplaced once more within the first spherical of doubles, this time with Viktor Troicki.
4 years in a while the onerous court docket in Rio, Djokovic was the highest seed (and now a 12-time main champion) however he was shocked by Del Potro within the first spherical. Djokovic and Zimonjic misplaced within the second spherical of doubles.
However no loss stung more durable than in 2021. Competing within the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, Djokovic arrived after profitable all three of the 12 months’s Slams. He was on a quest to affix simply Steffi Graf in 1988 as the one tennis gamers in historical past to attain the “Golden Slam” — all 4 main titles and an Olympic singles gold in the identical season.
However within the semifinals — but once more — Djokovic had his desires dashed by eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev. He had simply taken the primary set 6-1 however then received simply 4 video games within the ultimate two units. Issues received even worse within the bronze medal match in opposition to Pablo Carreno Busta as Djokovic struggled to regulate his feelings, and abused his racket on a number of events. He misplaced the match 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3, after which withdrew from the combined doubles bronze-medal match (with Nina Stojanovic), slated to start later that very same day, citing a left shoulder harm. He had performed seven matches in 4 days throughout attracts and it appeared it had all caught as much as him.
“I performed underneath medicines, unbelievable ache and exhaustion,” Djokovic stated.
He by no means was in a position to get his season absolutely again on monitor and misplaced within the ultimate of the US Open weeks later to Daniil Medvedev, thwarting his adjusted purpose of the calendar Grand Slam.
“[It] was additionally [an] emotionally very demanding interval for me within the final 5, six months,” Djokovic stated after the loss. “Slams and Olympics … All the pieces was coming collectively for me right here and form of accumulating all of the feelings that I have been via. Sadly I did not make it within the ultimate step.”
DJOKOVIC NOW RETURNS to the Olympics in a radically completely different place than he was in three years in the past. Not solely has he but to win a Slam this season, however he is but to win a title of any form. It is his worst begin to a season since 2006. Whereas he stated he has no plans to retire, he is aware of time is operating out. He can be 41 when the 2028 Olympics start.
And returning to Roland Garros, the location of the French Open and the Olympic competitors, may additionally show difficult. He injured his knee throughout the French Open in June and was pressured to withdraw forward of his quarterfinal match. He underwent surgical procedure for a torn medial meniscus in his proper knee on June 5, initially leaving his standing for Wimbledon doubtful.
Many speculated he would skip the grass-court match to deal with his rehabilitation, and proceed coaching on clay forward of the Olympics. However Djokovic arrived on the All England Membership every week earlier than the principle draw started. After a number of profitable and pain-free practices, he performed and was spectacular all through his run, displaying few indicators of discomfort or hampered motion.
“If somebody informed me I might play [in the] Wimbledon ultimate three, 4 weeks in the past, I might take it for positive,” he stated.
Djokovic and his friends have needed to shortly readjust to the pink clay after spending the previous month on grass. The surfaces could not be extra completely different — the clay is considerably slower than the grass — and the way in which gamers transfer on the court docket is as nicely. It is going to be tough for even these with no bodily illnesses or accidents. Maybe partly due to this, Djokovic will solely be taking part in in singles at these Video games.
However whereas Djokovic appeared drained and barely dejected after the Wimbledon ultimate, he was not deterred.
“Let’s have a look at how bodily and mentally I’ll really feel. Hopefully I can discover the appropriate tennis as a result of I’ll want all I’ve and extra to go to the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.”
