Novak Djokovic has taken a few days of rest after his success at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam competition of the tennis season. Last Wednesday, he was at the San Siro stadium to support his favourite team, Milan, in their Champions League encounter against Arsenal.

Last year, the Serb player had a tremendous season. He won three Grand Slam events – Australia, Wimbledon and the US Open, missing out in the fourth, the Roland Garros in France, after a defeat in the semi-final. To these wins, he added a series of other victories in the Masters competition, which enabled him to climb up to the Number One spot in the rankings.

His victory against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open last month will never be forgotten. Spanning nearly six hours, the final was a roller-coaster of emotions as first one player had the advantage only for the opponent to reverse the trend and vice-versa. In that final set, Djokovic was a break behind at 4-2 but when he looked down and out, he came back to win a series of games that gave him the title.

He has been given the nickname of Superman. His fighting spirit knows no bounds. Ever since he changed his diet – he realised he was allergic to gluten only three years ago – he has become more powerful and enduring. In the past, he used to allow his volatile temper to take control of his emotions. Today, he manages to keep the lid on and this, together with his thirst for victory, is a dangerous concoction for his opponents.

He has already put the great year he had in 2011 behind him. He is not resting on his laurels. Skeptics who thought that what he had achieved last year was enough and that he would have lost his tenacity got their answer in Melbourne – Djokovic is still eager to win more and more.

He has set himself the target to win the Grand Slam this season, a feat that was last achieved by Rod Laver in 1969. It is a tough target – great champions of the past four decades did not manage to win the four titles in one year, although some did do it over several seasons.

Nadal and Roger Federer will be doing their best to stop Djokovic’s run, and players like Murray, Fish and Ferrer have their outside chances too, on a good day. But they will have to be at their best to outsmart the dominant Serb.