Djokovic back to defend his crown

Novak Djokovic is back in Australia and fiercely protective of retaining his Australian Open crown.

The reigning champion at Melbourne Park has been training in earnest in Monaco and backs himself to ward off all challengers.

"I take the best memories of my career out of Melbourne last year, and I really look forward getting back there," he said in Brisbane today.

"Of course there's going to be a certain amount of expectations and pressure as the grand slam champion but I will try to use it in my favour and look at it as a positive challenge."

The world No.3 is top seed at the Brisbane International where he opens on Tuesday against Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

"This is a professional sport so if you intend to be one of the best players in the world you have to learn to cope with that pressure and accept it as a part of your life," he said.

"I will have to put that aside and try to repeat the success of last year.

"I'm sure I have enough quality to do that. It's just a matter of if I'm able to perform my best tennis like I did last year or not."

Some tennis observers such as former Australian champion John Newcombe, have suggested Djokovic might crumple under pressure of defending his crown in Melbourne and the Serb agreed that it was easier to be the hunter rather than the hunted in big tournaments.

If he wins in Brisbane, his ranking could move from No.3 to No.2, thus avoiding No.1 Rafael Nadal until the final. But he is wary of Gulbis, who nearly defeated him twice in 2008.

"He has nothing to lose," Djokovic said. "He's a big server and for both of us the first match of the season, so it's tricky."