GOLD MEDAL IN PARIS NOW THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR DJOKOVIC

NOVAK DJOKOVIC insists his main focus for the season centres around grabbing gold in this year’s Paris Olympics.

The 36-year-old Serb has won a joint-record 24 Grand Slams but is yet to win an Olympic gold medal.

Although he earned a bronze at Beijing 2008, he has lost the thirdplace match twice in his three Olympic appearances since.

‘The Paris Olympics are very important — the Olympics have always been a priority for me,’ said Djokovic. ‘But in the last three or four Olympics, it’s not been possible for me to reach the later stages (he final).

‘The situation is a bit different now. We are playing our first Olympics on clay.

‘So I really want to be ready physically and mentally.’

The Paris Olympic tournament will be staged in late July at Roland Garros, the traditional venue for the French Open, which this year takes place from 20 May to 9 June.

In between those events, Djokovic will aim to regain the Wimbledon title on grass but added: ‘It’s all about building my game for clay courts.

‘I want to reach my peak for Paris — that’s where I want to play my best tennis.

‘Anything else is a bonus, so let’s see what happens.’

Meanwhile, Matteo Berrettini’s recovery from long-term injury continued as the talented Italian booked his place in the ATP Grand Prix Hassan II final in Marrakech, Morocco yesterday.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist returned from a six-month injury lay-off in March and has managed to hit the ground running.

Berrettini, who is now 135th in the world, beat Argentine Mariano Navone 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2.

Sixth in the world two years ago, Berrettini will see today’s final against Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena as a huge step towards returning to the peak of his powers.