Novak Djokovic bids to extend hot streak

Novak Djokovic will look to extend his sensational run of form at the Australian Open on Monday as expectations soar about what he could achieve this year.

All eyes are on the Serbian world number one and his bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam after he fell just short during his brilliant 2015 season.

The 28-year-old is yet to drop a set this year and his performance in the Qatar Open final was described as “perfect” by his flummoxed opponent, Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic could even pick up the first ever men’s ‘Golden Slam’ if he manages to unite the four major titles and be crowned Olympic champion at Rio de Janeiro in August.

Roger Federer is also in action on day one, against Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, with Djokovic’s other main challengers Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka starting on Tuesday.

Djokovic, who has five Australian Open titles, has only lost once in the last five years at Melbourne Park, when he was stopped by Wawrinka in the 2014 quarter-finals.

One wildcard for the Serb could be Melbourne’s intense heat, with temperatures forecast at 37 Celsius on Monday.

Murray also has an enviable record at Melbourne Park, reaching four finals in the past six years — although he is yet to lift the trophy.

Home interest will focus on the farewell of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, who is playing his final tournament, and the talented but wayward duo of Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios.

Serena Williams has Graf record in sights

Serena Williams begins her quest on Monday to equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles battling fitness concerns and with a host of players desperate to dethrone the defending champion.

Following a dominant 2015, the world number one is gunning for a seventh Australian crown adamant that she is over the knee problems that hindered her during the latter half of the year and during her Melbourne Park build-up.

Williams is in a tough half of the draw with Russia’s Sharapova, seeded five, potentially awaiting her in the quarters.

Sharapova, 28, is also lacking match practice after a left forearm problem forced her out of the Brisbane International, but she too said all is now well.

Snapping at the heels of the two veterans are world number two Simona Halep and third ranked Garbine Muguruza, who have also had less than ideal preparations with illness or injury affecting their build-up.

Aggressive baseliner Halep, who won titles in Shenzhen, Dubai and Indian Wells last year, is looking for her first Grand Slam crown.

Sania, Bopanna to fight for title

Sania Mirza will look to carry forward her sparkling run along with Swiss partner Martina Hingis while Rohan Bopanna will also be among the top contenders with Florin Mergea to win his first ever Grand Slam title here.

Overall, India have six players in contention including Yuki Bhambri in the men’s singles where he faces world number six Tomas Berdych in his opening round. But apart from Sania, only Bopanna can be considered as a contender with Romanian partner Mergea. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have been grouped in the same half of the draw.