Djokovic in quest of Australian Open hat-trick

Injuries keep Nadal out; Murray, Federer hot on Serb’s tracks.

SYDNEY: Novak Djokovic will grapple with his growing rivalry with Andy Murray and the enduring powers of Roger Federer as he bids for the first Australian Open hat-trick of the professional era.

Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal through illness has robbed Melbourne Park of a repeat of last year’s epic final, when Djokovic finally tamed the Spaniard after a record five hours and 53 minutes final which left him with bleeding toes. But the Serbian world number one will face a stiff challenge from the newly assertive Andy Murray, fresh from his first Grand Slam win. Also pressing hard will be Federer, holder of an unmatched 17 Grand Slams and still hungry for more.

“I have high ambitions for myself,” said Djokovic. “The Australian Open is by far my most successful one so I am really looking forward to it. But I am absolutely aware it is going to be very difficult, because today’s men’s tennis is very competitive.”

Murray comes into the Open on the back of his 25th career singles title at the Brisbane International.



“I hope that the Australian Open goes a bit better for me than it did last year,” said the two-time finalist. “I played some very good tennis there.”

Meanwhile four-time winner Federer, keen to extend his long stay at the top of men’s tennis, has unusually opted out of playing a warm-up tournament.

“I want to try and make this last as long as I can,” said Federer. “I don’t want to fizzle out. I love the pressure of playing with a new generation coming up, who are improving quickly.”

Motivated Serena looks for 6th Australian title

A pumped-up Serena Williams is gunning for a sixth Australian Open crown as she kicks off her bid for the first calendar year Grand Slam since the 1980s.

“Brisbane made my preparation for Melbourne much better,” said Williams. “I feel like I want to do better and play better still, and I’ve always felt like I could play better.”

Williams goes into the tournament as firm favourite after her blistering performances in the second half of 2012, when she picked up her titles at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open, as well as the WTA Championships.

Reigning French Open champion Sharapova also has significant experience in Melbourne and will be playing her 10th Australian campaign. But injury worries could derail her plans after being forced to withdraw from the season-opening Brisbane International with a right collarbone injury.

World number one Azarenka is also battling injury concerns, withdrawing from her Brisbane semi-final against Williams after failing to recover from a big toe infection. But she said the problem was improving and that she would be ready for the Australian Open.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2013.