Serbia: Novak Djokovic

Born: 22/05/1987

Place of birth: Belgrade, Serbia

Event: Tennis

Previous Olympics: 1

Previous medals: 1

It has become one of the most iconic and recognisable sights in modern tennis: a should-be weary but somehow energised Novak Djokovic ripping open his shirt, beating his chest and celebrating another stunning triumph.

That was an image that was first seen when the proud Serbian won the Davis Cup for his country in 2010, and one that was repeated following grand slam victories during 2011 and again this year.

Djokovic's emergence as the leading name in tennis has been quite staggering, with his one-man dismantling of the previously dominant Rafael Nadal something to behold.

Over the past few years, he has gone from being a mere challenger to the all-conquering duo of Nadal and Roger Federer to the man who is taking tennis to new heights.

Ten tournament victories in 2011 - including the Australian Open, the US Open and Wimbledon, and a record-breaking five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles - enabled him to set a new benchmark for the most money ever won in a single season and ensured that he looked every bit the number one player in the world.

His rivals have already acknowledged that he is the new 'man to beat' when it comes to the major tournaments - and his winning start to 2012 at his favoured Australian Open set the tone for yet more success.

But having risen to the top, the challenge now is to stay there and dominate the game for years to come.

In terms of the Olympics, he already has a bronze medal from the singles at Beijing 2008. He could have been forgiven for perhaps placing London 2012 slightly lower down on his list of priorities, especially given its place in the schedule between Wimbledon and the US Open and the fact that it carries nothing in terms of all-important ranking points, but for a player who is so fiercely competitive in everything he does, that was never an option.

National pride alone means that he has made the Olympics one of his targets, and Djokovic said: "I am happy to be able to represent my country as it is, in its most beautiful way after the undeserved, negative publicity it has had in recent years.

"I had the privilege of being part of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and won a bronze medal for my country."

Djokovic's talent has never been disputed by those who follow tennis closely but, after an early breakthrough at the Australian Open in Melbourne in 2008, it was not until that Davis Cup success that he started to demonstrate it on his current level, match after match, week after week.

"It's true that I have improved but by a very small percentage," he said, assessing the mentality that has taken him to the top. "It's my mental approach that has changed.

"I stepped it up. It's my time, I can do it," he insists as he charts his plan to stay at the pinnacle of the game. "Luck falls on not just the brave but also the ones who believe they belong there."