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Djokovic eyes improvement

Novak Djokovic is in confident mood ahead of Indian Wells © AP

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• Profile: Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is still trying to improve his game despite winning the 36th title of his career in Dubai last weekend.

The Serb defeated Tomas Berdych in straight sets to lift the trophy at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for a fourth time, but despite outclassing his Czech opponent and stretching his unbeaten run to 18 matches (his last defeat came at the 2012 Paris Masters), Djokovic admits there is still plenty of room for improvement.

"I haven't always been a player who loves to play on super-fast surfaces," the four-time Australian Open champion said. "I have been trying to work on a few things that can give me more variety in my game, and I can use that in the tournaments to come."

Five of Djokovic's six grand slams have come on the hard courts, and with the BNP Paribas Open - the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season - at Indian Wells kicking off this week, the 25-year-old will once again be the hot favourite on a surface he is most dangerous on.

"I also like playing Indian Wells and Miami (Sony Open Tennis, the second Masters 1000 event after Indian Wells). I've won a lot of times there, at each event," Djokovic said.

Already looking like he is going to take some stopping in 2013, very much like he was a couple of years ago, Djokovic will be out to add to his two wins in Indian Wells and retain his crown in Miami for a third straight season.

Indian Wells will also see the "Big four" of the men's game be reunited, with Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal all participating together in a tournament for the first time since Wimbledon last year.

Men's rankings: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB), 2. Roger Federer (SUI), 3. Andy Murray (GBR), 4. David Ferrer (ESP), 5. Rafael Nadal (ESP), 6. Tomas Berdych (CZE), 7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG), 8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), 9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), 10. Richard Gasquet (FRA)

Women's rankings: 1. Serena Williams (USA), 2. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), 3. Maria Sharapova (RUS), 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), 5. Li Na (CHN), 6. Angelique Kerber (GER), 7. Petra Kvitova (CZE), 8. Sara Errani (ITA), 9. Samantha Stosur (AUS), 10. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

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