Murray brings Doha finalist trophy on court in Melbourne

She said she hoped to be okay for the Australian Open.

After a year of change in 2016, there are a number of sub-plots that we will all need to follow throughout and beyond this great championship.

It appears that world No. 1 Andy Murray is sick of losing to second-ranked Novak Djokovic, especially at the Australian Open. So as they gear up for the first Grand Slam of 2017, the question is: can anyone in the men’s draw prevent another Murray-Djokovic final? There is still a lingering feeling of “he is still not quite as his dominant best”, but only a fearless man would bet against Djokovic reaching the final of his favourite Grand Slam.

What about the Aussies?

Djokovic, who has a tricky start against Fernando Verdasco, has won all four of his Melbourne Park finals against Murray, who is due. He paid as Djokovic won the next three sets to become the first man in the “Open” era to win the tournament three times in a row. Murray is lined up to face Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals should both progress and if he succeeds, he could face US Open victor Stan Wawrinka in the semi-final.

The other, his former coach Ivan Lendl, lost five at the U.S. Open but sandwiched the defeats with a hat-trick of wins from 1985-87.

“Of course, it’s an incentive, it’s motivation”, Djokovic said.

The 25-year-old made the semi-final in Melbourne last year, her best ever Grand Slam performance, and with a career-high ranking of Number 9 set to be achieved when the new list is published on Monday, she is still showing signs of improvement.

In the quarter-finals, Murray will likely face one of Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer or Kei Nishikori.

The two tantalizing first-round encounters overshadowed the fate of Roger Federer in Friday’s draw. However, the tournament could also be won leading up to the final – if one has a tough match in the semi-final and is coming in worn out.

Konta has not dropped a set at the tournament so far and was at her aggressive best in a 6-2 6-2 victory over Eugenie Bouchard, in the last match of the evening session. Maybe the end results will be familiar, but the path to get to them has indubitably been altered. Shrinking salad-muncher Bernard Tomic could face Marin Cilic in round three.

Sir Murray is not only carrying the burden of being the knight of the realm, but also reigning over the men’s tour at the top of the rankings.

Nadal, the 14-time major victor who is returning from two months off with a left wrist injury, and Raonic are in the top quarter on that side of the draw. He has won against most of the top players. Just this week, she was forced to retire in a match at the Sydney International because of a cracked toenail.

Raonic should make the quarter-finals at worst, but is capable of making the final, there is no doubt about that!

Just like section four of the draw, not many of these players appear to be in strong form, including Dominic Thiem. All eyes will be on Rafa who continues his comeback, and I think Team Rafa will take their draw.

Djokovic will embark on his 13th Australian Open campaign having surpassed legends Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg on the all-time grand slam leaderboard with his 11th and 12th major successes in 2016.

Logic would suggest another Murray-Djokovic final.

Also looming in the quarter is the resurgent Grigor Dimitrov.