When Sam Querrey upset Novak Djokovic in the third round of Wimbledon, it sent shockwaves throughout the tennis world.  Not surprisingly, there was plenty of overreaction to this stunning outcome.  Fans and pundits proclaimed it was a career-changer for Querrey while lamenting that it completely changed the narrative of Djokovic's year.  More than a month removed from this result, folks can now look at it in a realistic light and question not only if it was a sign of trouble or merely a blip in the Serb's game, but what effect, if any, it has on his chances for success in Rio.

Logic would dictate that Djokovic's surprising loss at Wimbledon was simply a blip.  He has played head and shoulders above pretty much anyone else in the field for the better part of the last year and a half.  He just happened to run into a red-hot Querrey, who proved that no player, no matter how dominant, is invincible.  But that is no reason to suspect that the current world no.1  is suddenly more vulnerable, particularly given that he has already illustrated his ability to quickly bounce back from disappointment.

Nor should Djokovic's loss at Wimbledon truly change the narrative of his season.  Sure, the calendar-year Grand Slam is off the table, but he has already had plenty to celebrate in 2016.  He bagged the first two slams of the year, and with his win in Paris, he simultaneously completed the career Grand Slam and became the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four major titles at once.  He has also been pretty stingy at the Masters, as evidenced by winning his fourth Master’s shield of the season last week in Toronto. 

Clearly, there has been plenty for the Serb to smile about, and he is now in a position to add to his list of accomplishments in 2016 by winning Gold in Rio.  And arguably, his early loss at Wimbledon might actually aid him in this quest.

There is no doubt that Djokovic is going to face immense pressure at this year's Olympics.  He is ranked world no.1 and has been so dominant people naturally expect him to win every match he plays.  He has also never won an Olympic Gold Medal, so there is the added pressure that comes with trying to pull off a feat that is only presented once every four years.  Then there is the fact that he knows he is facing a depleted field with Roger Federer absent and a very rusty Rafael Nadal making his first return to competition since Roland Garros. Now imagine how much greater the pressure might have been had not only the calendar-year Grand Slam still been in play but a Golden Grand Slam as well.  How much heavier might his racquet have felt?

And while no player likes to lose, his early loss at Wimbledon perhaps has him better prepared heading into Rio.  Had he been more successful at Wimbledon, his first event back likely would have been the Olympics.  Instead, he got a little more rest and had the chance to play Toronto where he could work off the rust and gain some confidence via his victory before traveling to the Brazilian metropolis. 

Djokovic definitely finds himself in an interesting position heading into Rio, but it is not altogether unfamiliar.  He is still the favorite and still searching for his first Olympic Gold Medal, but there are now no other added pressures.  It is simply another prestigious event he is seeking to win, and irrespective of whether he goes all the way or falls short of his goal, it is unlikely to have a bearing on the remainder of his season.  That said, a victory in Rio would go a long way towards making people forget what happened in London, and there is no reason to suspect he is incapable of doing exactly that.