Titles keep piling up for Djokovic

Novak Djokovic. AP

INDIAN WELLS – Novak Djokovic heads into the Indian Wells tournament sufficiently recovered from winning the first major of the year and ready to continue last year’s amazing run of success.

The world number one has captured the last three Grand Slams, including winning a near six-hour duel over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final in January.

“Everybody had time after Australia to recover, to get rest, and play some events prior to Indian Wells,” Djokovic said.

“You need to play lots of matches and play against the best players in the world. The conditions here are suitable to my style of game. The courts are a little bit slower which I prefer.”

When he arrived at Indian Wells last year, Djokovic was riding a season-long match win streak that he eventually stretched to 41 matches.

Djokovic opens the defense of his title in the California desert Saturday when he faces qualifier Andrey Golubev in a second round match. He is showing no signs of slowing down as he goes for his third Indian Wells title.

“I don’t consider myself as being in the top of the world, being untouchable or unbeatable,” he said Friday. “My job is to play tennis and to win matches and try to win as many titles as possible.

“It definitely makes me reflect on the 2011, especially the season that I had. It was the best of my career and I’m at the peak of my form, peak of my career in this moment.”

Djokovic was asked Friday if he can win all four of the majors this year. No man has won four consecutive Grand Slams in the same year since Rod Laver in 1969.

“I need to keep my simple-minded focus on every tournament I play on, because that is the way that I can stay grounded and I can stay committed,” Djokovic said.

“But I think anyone who wins the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, has a chance to win all four Grand Slams of the year. I guess that subject is opening up.

“I would just try to take it one tournament at a time.”

Djokovic, who also won the Indian Wells title in 2008, could face last week’s Delray Beach champion Kevin Anderson in the third round. Potential quarter-final opponents include world number seven Tomas Berdych or American Andy Roddick.