Nadal and Federer have shown how difficult 2012 may be for Djokovic
Published:Big achievements will again be expected of Novak Djokovic this year following his success of 2011, but even matching his achievements looks a monumental ask.
Djokovic was virtually untouchable for the first three quarters of last year, which included victories in the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
However, fatigue and injury ruined his final push as the Serbian was forced to withdraw or retire injured from some events late in the season as his playing levels understandably dropped.
Djokovic has begun the current season in much the same way as the last and he has already added to his trophy collection with victory in Abu Dhabi.
The way he swatted aside fellow top-eight players Roger Federer and David Ferrer look particularly ominous for the remainder of the men’s tour for 2012.
But in the last five years both Federer and Rafael Nadal have won three Grand Slams in a season and failed to come close to matching their success in the following year.
The duo only managed to win one major title in the year directly after these successes and the current world number one may struggle to do any better.
Djokovic has experienced his best Grand Slam results in Melbourne and with the rest of the tour still shaking off unwanted rustiness, the Australian Open looks to be his to lose.
It is 11/8 in the Australian Open odds that Djokovic triumphs in the opening Grand Slam of the year.
Meanwhile, it is 7/4 that Djokovic copies Federer and Nadal and wins just one Grand Slam in the year directly following that where he claimed three.
Alternatively, Djokovic can be backed at 7/1 to repeat last year’s Grand Slam haul of three, while it is 16/1 that he emulates the feat of Rod Laver in 1969 by securing a clean sweep of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 2012.
