Will this be Novak Djokovic’s year at the Olympic Games, or will Andy Murray win for the second time? The men’s final of the Australian Open, scheduled for 7:30pm this Sunday (31 January) in Melbourne may be a good preview of what Rio 2016 will offer in August. The first grand slam of the year is the only one played on a hard court before the Olympic tennis tournament, which also has this type of surface. (The French Open is played on clay, and Wimbledon is played on grass.)  

After ending the 2015 season with 82 victories and just six defeats, Djokovic has begun 2016 in impeccable form, with decisive victories against possible Olympic rivals. The Serb won the Qatar Open by easily beating Spain’s Rafael Nadal, no.5 in the rankings, 6-2, 6-1. In the Australian Open, his latest big-name scalp was Switzerland’s Roger Federer, who lost the semi-final 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

“The first two sets I played against Roger were the best I have ever played against him”

Novak Djokovic, after taking a 23-22 all-time lead in matches against Federer

Federer, currently no.3 in the rankings, was responsible for the Serb’s two last defeats in the 2015 season: in the qualifying round of the World Tour Finals in London, 7-5, 6-2, on 17 November, and in the final match of the ATP 1000 in Cincinnati, 7-6 (6-1), 6-3, on 23 August. In Melbourne, however, things were different.

Federer could not carry his good form against Djokovic into the new year (Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Rooney) 

In Sunday’s final, Djokovic will face the reigning Olympic champion and current world no.2. Great Britain’s Murray underwent a gruelling four-hour semi-final against Canada’s Milos Raonic (4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 5-2) on Friday and is playing his first competition of the year in Australia, where he has notched up six victories so far. In 2015, he had 71 victories and 14 defeats.

His brother, Jamie, has reached the doubles final with Brazil’s Bruno Soares but it is another family matter that has been foremost on Murray’s mind in Melbounre. His wife, Kim, is due to give birth to their first child in February and he said he would fly home if she went into labour early.

However, Murray sees himself in good form. “After a tough year in 2014 when I was coming back from back surgery, I think I’m now established again at the top of the game and giving myself chances. That’s all I can keep doing. That and working hard,” he said in his blog.

“I will give it my best to the very last point, whenever that may be”

Andy Murray

Djokovic has said that a first Olympic gold medal (he took bronze at Beijing 2008) is among his priorities this season. “The way the last few seasons have gone for me, I feel I can do very well in Rio,” the Serb said.

Murray, however, is focused on getting another Olympic victory in Rio. “The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in my opinion, by far. Some people say the football World Cup is bigger, but I’ve been at the opening ceremony and the world’s best athletes are all there. Nothing comes close to it. I’m really looking forward to Rio,” he recently told the British press.

Old friends Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on collision course in battle for Olympic gold