Novak eyes fourth Wimbledon title

HAVING finally rid himself of his French Open curse, Novak Djokovic is chasing a third successive Wimbledon title to move one step closer to the first calendar grand slam in 47 years.

The 29-year-old world No 1, champion at Wimbledon in 2011, 2014 and last year, has become the unstoppable “slam machine”.

His victory over Andy Murray in Paris gave him a 12th major, taking him to within two of Rafael Nadal’s mark and five behind the record 17 of Roger Federer.

But Nadal is missing from this year’s Wimbledon, nursing a wrist injury, while seven-time All England Club champion Federer is without a major in four years and a shadow of the player he once was.

World No 2 Murray, the Wimbledon champion in 2013, remains Djokovic’s only serious rival, but the British star has a 10-24 career record against the Serb.

Djokovic has won 13 of their last 15 meetings and has not been defeated by Murray at a slam since the Wimbledon final three years ago.

Djokovic holds all four majors and is targeting becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar grand slam, a feat only achieved three times in the sport’s history.

He appears to be under little pressure heading into Wimbledon where he starts today against Britain’s world No 177, James Ward. In between practice and this week’s rain, he posed for selfies on the London underground, happily opting for public transport.

Djokovic has reached at least the quarterfinals of every slam since a fourthround exit at the 2009 French Open.

Murray, just a week older than Djokovic, will be looking for his third major after the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon trophies.

He has reunited with coach Ivan Lendl, the man who guided him to his two majors and the pair celebrated a record fifth Queen’s Club title at the weekend.

Murray begins his campaign against fellow Briton, Liam Broady, ranked at No 234 in the world.