Djokovic insists there's no clear favourite for Australian Open

Defending champion vak Djokovic insisted re are clear favorites for next week's Australian Open despite his omius start to season. world number two was in fine touch at ATP Cup, leing Serbia to victory over 23 or nations in new men's team event, overpowering Davis Cup champions Spain in final in early hours of Monday.

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His march included wins over dangerous Canian Denis Shapovalov, world number five Daniil Medvedev and his long-time rival, top-ranked Rafael Nal. Despite this, and Djokovic's dominance at Melbourne Park, where he has won season-opening Grand Slam seven times since 2008, Serb said re were plenty of players capable of being crowned champion."Look, last hardcourt Grand Slam was in New York, and Rafa won it," he said of US Open final where Nal edged Medvedev in five sets.

vak Djokovic on Australian Open

"So, you kw, I think it's really open, Australian Open or any or Slam. "I don't think re are really clear favourites. You have obviously Federer, Nal, myself because of experience and everything and rankings that we get to be probably named top three favourites.

"But n you have Medvedev, (Stefas) Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem that are really showing some amazing tennis." Djokovic pointed to season-ending ATP Finals in London where Tsitsipas battled back from a set down to beat Thiem.

"y showed that y matured on big st, that y can challenge best players in world and win against m," he said. "So everybody keeps on talking about NextGen player winning a Slam. You kw, it seems like it's getting closer. Hopefully t this year. We'll see."Djokovic enjoyed ATP Cup hugely, a different start to how he usually begins his season, revelling in team spirit and large Serbian crowd support when he played in Brisbane and Sydney.

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Djokovic eyeing an eighth Australian Open title

He called it "perfect preparation" for a tilt at an eighth title at Australian Open, which starts on January 20."I didn't kw what to expect from event. Obviously I didn't kw how deep we would go and I was hoping we would pass group sts and see how it goes," he said."But se kinds of team competitions are really, truly special, and I'm personally over cloud with my emotions, and hopefully, I can take that positive energy and use it for Australian Open." 

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(Im Courtesy: AP)