Defending champion Novak Djokovic will be bidding for his third consecutive grand slam trophy when the Australian Open champion gets his title defence under way in Melbourne. The Serbian world number one dominated last season, winning three of the four grand slams and goes into the year’s opening major as the man to beat against chief rivals Nadal, Federer and Murray. Djokovic kicked off his sensational 2011 with victory over Murray in the Australian Open final and then added the Wimbledon and US Open crowns, beating Nadal both times in the title matches. Only four men on five occasions have won three or more consecutive grand slams in the open era — Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Nadal and Federer twice.
