Novak Djokovic: Why the Djoker Must Win Australian Open in 2012

Novak Djokovic dominated the tennis world last year and it all started Down Under.

The winner at three of the four Grand Slams last year, now he's back, with nothing short of winning all four on his mind.

In order to even consider that, he must win at Melbourne Park—and with a huge target on his back.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were two of the best players in the world for much of the last five years, and when one of them wasn't winning, the other was.

And then Djokovic came along. 

The 24-year-old Serbian played what Nadal called "probably the highest level of tennis that I ever saw," and added:

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"Novak had an unbelievable season. What he did is very difficult to repeat. His level of tennis was very, very high. He beat me and he was playing better than me. That's why he was able to win almost every match during the season."

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But the most important take-away from what Nadal said is how difficult it will be for Djokovic to repeat that type of performance.

Nadal and Federer won't be taken by surprise this season. They know what to expect from their new rival. They know his strengths and weaknesses.

For Djokovic to do anything like what he did last year, he's going to have to be better than last year.

And it all starts with the Australian Open.