The first Grand Slam of 2023 is upon us as tennis fans flock to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open. Here, we’ll be providing our best futures betting tips for both the men’s and women’s draw. Check them out below and good luck to everyone following!
Also, make sure to head over to our Tennis Tips page regularly to check out our expert selections for some the day’s action over the next fortnight.
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2023 Australian Open Futures Betting Tips
Men’s Outright
The withdrawal of world #1 Carlos Alcaraz, coupled with the fitness/form struggles of world #2 and defending champion Rafael Nadal, make Novak Djokovic the odds-on favourite to win the Australian Open for a record 10th time. Of course, Djokovic wasn’t allowed to compete at Melbourne Park last season due to his vaccination status, but he’s been cleared to play this time around and already looks to be in sizzling form after winning his lead-up tournament in Adelaide where he only dropped one set. Djokovic has won the Australian Open in each of his last three attempts and it seems the stars are aligning for him to make a deep run at a four-peat. His odds are certainly short enough but it’s also extremely difficult to make a case against him.
If you’re after something at longer odds, Daniil Medvedev is an obvious selection at around the $7 mark. He’s made the final in each of the last two Australian Opens and was a winner on the hard courts at the US Open in 2021 for his maiden slam. Around him, Stefanos Tsitsipas is a three-time finalist here and is in good form for a $15 shot. At 24-years-old, he now has enough experience behind him to start consistently competing at this level.
Value: Daniil Medvedev $7
Stefanos Tsitsipas $15
Women’s Outright
At just 21-years-old, world #1 Iga Swiatek is already a three-time Grand Slam winner and will come to Melbourne Park as the outright favourite in the women’s draw at around $3.25. She won 2/4 slams on offer in 2022 including one on hard courts at Flushing Meadows, so it’s no shock that she’s the favourite to add to her tally. However, Swiatek’s best result at the Australian Open was a semi-final finish last year and I’m not prepared to take her at those odds until she’s proven she can dominate in the Aussie summer conditions.
My pick to take it out in 2023 is world #3 Jessica Pegula from the USA. Pegula has started the new year in ripping form, highlighted by her 6-2 6-2 drubbing of Swiatek in the United Cup last week. She’s a three-time quarterfinalist on slam hard courts, two of which came in 2022. Pegula has the game to match it with the best and her high seeding means she’ll have the opportunity to work her way into the tournament with some easier matches in week one.
Men’s Quarter 4
I believe there’s an opportunity for Taylor Fritz to make a deep run at the Australian Open for the first time in his career. He finally had some success at a slam in Wimbledon when he made the quarterfinals last year and while there were no ranking points up for grabs, he still made his way into the top 10 thanks to some great results at other tournaments. Fritz has been dealt the best draw he could’ve asked for too, at least up until the semi-finals. The other main chances in Quarter 4 are Casper Ruud who’s always struggled on Australian soil, Matteo Berrettini who Fritz has a 3-0 H2H record against, and Alexander Zverev who’s only just come back from a horrible leg injury. The opportunity is certainly there for Fritz to take, and I think the odds are decent enough to have something on.
Women’s Quarter 3
The weakest quarter in the women’s draw looks to be Quarter 3 which is headlined by #3 ranked Caroline Garcia. She’s the narrow favourite ($3.50) to make it out of that quarter ahead of Veronika Kudermetova ($5) and Daria Kasatkina ($7.50). Kudermetova had to withdraw from her recent semi-final in Adelaide due to a left hip injury, while Kasatkina lost the Adelaide final 6-2 6-0 to Belinda Bencic. Form and injury issues to these players make the recent WTA Finals winner, Garcia, the deserving favourite in this market and I’m keen to have something on her to capitalise on the opportunity.
