Men’s Australian Open 2023: Leading contenders in the outright betting
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Leading contenders in the men’s Australian Open odds
The first grand slam of the year is under way and the world’s best tennis players will be looking to get 2023 off to a dream start.
Carlos Alcaraz and Nick Kyrgios are missing due to injury while Rafael Nadal was knocked out in the second round so here we assess the chances of the leading contenders in the men’s Australian Open odds.
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic will be hoping that travel problems relating to his refusal to have a Covid vaccination will no longer be an issue in 2023 as he looks to add to his haul of 21 grand slam titles.
He was forced to miss both the Australian Open and US Open last year but completed three successive title triumphs in Melbourne from 2019 to 2021, taking him to a record nine Australian Open titles.
The Serbian may have slipped to fifth in the world rankings due to the number of tournaments missed in 2022 but he remains the clear favourite in the men’s Australian Open odds.
He warmed up by winning the Adelaide International and received a warm welcome as he returned to the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Roberto Carballes Baena. Undoubtedly the one to beat with so many big names absent and he is odds-on for the title at 4/5.
Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev may still be wondering how he failed to win the Australian Open 12 months ago and may never have a better chance.
With Djokovic absent, Medvedev looked set to justify his status as favourite in the men’s Australian Open odds when he won the first two sets of the final.
He failed to get over the line though as Nadal battled back to claim a stunning five-set win in the second longest grand slam final in history.
Medvedev struggled to reach those heights again during a poor year but is a US Open champion so has shown he has what it takes to go all the way and is 7/2 to do so here after starting his campaign with a straight-sets victory over John Millman.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Greek is a three-time semi-finalist at the Australian Open so it would be no surprise to see him reach the business end of the tournament once more.
The world number four has never won a grand slam but will overtake Alcaraz at the top of the rankings if he breaks his duck in Melbourne.
His partnership with coach Mark Philippoussis could make the difference and the 24-year-old has looked solid in getting through the first two rounds without dropping a set, with his outright odds cut to 12/1.
Holger Rune
With Alcaraz sidelined, the title of leading teenage challenger goes to 19-year-old Dane Rune.
Having started last season outside the top 100, Rune finished it ranked 11 after a remarkable week at the Paris Masters, where he beat five top-10 players, including Djokovic, to claim the title.
The teenager brings attitude to the court and is an intriguing addition to the top ranks ahead of a second-round clash with Maxime Cressy, with Rune 16/1 to win the Australian Open.
Best of the rest
Felix Auger-Aliassime is another of the bright young talents in men’s tennis ready to fill the gap when Nadal and Djokovic retire.
He took Medvedev to five sets before losing in the quarter-finals last season and is 22/1 to win a maiden grand slam, having won four ATP Tour titles in 2022.
Possibly the best value in the outright men’s Australian Open odds is world number three Casper Ruud, who is available at 28/1.
The Norwegian reached the finals of the French Open and US Open in 2022 so could be a serious contender again in Melbourne.
British number one Cameron Norrie is 40/1 while Andy Murray is 50/1 to finally win the Australian Open, having been a runner-up five times.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
