Serial title winner Novak Djokovic’s absence from the 2022 Australian Open has made for a competitive men’s draw, with a number of players looking like genuine contenders to lift the trophy.
Last year’s runner-up and the 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev is 6/4 to go all the way, having opened with a 6-1 6-4 7-6 defeat of Henri Laaksonen, and he is joined in the bottom half of the draw by the likes of wildcard Andy Murray, young Italian Jannik Sinner and fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas, who is rated 14/1 to win the Australian Open, opened his account with a straight-sets drubbing of Mikael Ymer, but he has had a tough time of it recently, failing to make progress with Greece at the ATP Cup, as well as losing his only match at the ATP World Tour Finals at the end of 2021.
Spanish Duo Enjoying Steady Progress
In the top half of the men’s draw, meanwhile, 2009 winner Rafael Nadal looks as though he has recovered well from the foot injury which hindered him last season, causing him to miss Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open.
He has however won both of his matches in Melbourne in straight sets against Marcos Giron and Yannick Hanfmann, and he is 15/4 to win the Australian Open.
His compatriot Carlos Alcaraz – winner of the Next Gen ATP World Finals last year – is also making steady progress and the 18-year-old looks a dark horse at 25/1 to take the title.
He has barely broken a sweat in 3-0 triumphs over Alejandro Tabilo and Dusan Lajovic, although he does face fellow 25/1 shot Matteo Berrettini in the third round.
Barty and Osaka on Course for Blockbuster Showdown
In the women’s draw top seed and home talent Ashleigh Barty and two-time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka are on course to meet in the fourth round of the tournament.
Barty, who is 9/4 to go the distance, next faces experienced Italian Camila Giorgi and goes into the match in red-hot form, having dropped only three games in the Grand Slam so far.
As for Osaka, who is 6/1 to win the Australian Open, she has won both of her opening matches in straight sets, but she should be wary of her third-round opponent.
American youngster Amanada Anisimova won the Gippsland Trophy earlier this month and is fresh from knocking out capable 22nd seed Belinda Bencic in the second round.
Osaka is also still easing her way back into the game after having missed much of last season when she took a break to focus on her mental health.
Many Contenders in Women’s Draw
Iga Swiatek, who reached the semi-finals of the Adelaide International at the start of the year, is another outright competitor at 9/1 while Sydney International champion Paula Badosa has won in straight sets in her first two matches and can be backed at 12/1.
Garbine Muguruza, meanwhile, reached the Australian Open final back in 2020 and is sure to be in contention again.
She is 13/1 for the title after opening with a 6-3 6-4 success against Clara Burel.
*All odds correct at time of writing
