Novak Djokovic looks obvious choice for Australian Open 2023 title
The 2023 Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park from 16th to 29th January. Keep reading for our betting preview with best odds picks, expert betting advice and our Australian Open Tennis betting predictions for 2023.
Defending Champions
In 2022, Rafael Nadal won the Men’s tournament, recovering from a two-set deficit in the final to beat Daniil Medvedev 2–6, 6–7 (5–7), 6–4, 6–4, 7–5. However, Novak Djokovic (the three-time reigning champion with a record total of nine Australian Open titles) was unable to compete after his visa was cancelled shortly before the tournament began for failing to meet Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. This year, Djokovic is back.
The 2022 Australian Open Women’s champion was Ashleigh Barty, who beat Danielle Collins 6–3, 7–6 (7–2) in the final. Barty won’t be back to defend her title on home soil this year though, as she retired from the sport in March last year.
Djokovic Returns as Fav
Novak Djokovic is a strong favourite to reclaim the Australian crown this year, and comes into the tournament in good form, having won the Adelaide International last week by beating Sebastian Korda 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in the final.
The 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title when claiming the US Open last year, which saw him take over as the World No. 1 in the ATP rankings. However, he has withdrawn from the tournament due to a right leg injury.
Daniil Medvedev has been the beaten finalist in each of the last two Australian Open championships, and is another strong contender, although his more recent form hasn’t been great form.
Rafa Nadal is now 36 and increasingly injury-prone. It’s also worth noting that last year’s Australian title was not only secured in the absence of Djokovic, but was only his second Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
Other Men’s Australian Open Contenders
Other players who could be contenders to dethrone Nadal include Stefanos Tsitsipas (three Australian Open semi-finals in five appearances, and won all four of his singles matches at the recent United Cup), Nick Kyrgios (who will be on home soil of course, but withdrew from the United Cup and the Adelaide International due to injury), Casper Ruud (beaten finalist at the French and US Open championships in 2022), Felix Auger Aliassime and Jannik Sinner.
The 35-year-old Djokovic has only lost one of his past 25 matches, so even at odds of 9/10 with 888sport, it’s still difficult to back against him under the circumstances. A 10th Australian title and drawing level with Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam Singles titles could well be on the cards.
Australian Open Women’s Betting Preview
Poland’s 21-year-old World No. 1 and Australian Open top seed Iga Swiatek is the warm favourite for the women’s title, and understandably so after her stellar 2022, during which she reeled off a 37-match winning streak.
The 28-year-old Tunisian Ons Jabeur has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament, but she was a beaten finalist at both Wimbledon (losing to Elena Rybakina) and US Open (losing to Swiatek) in 2022.
Women players in decent form coming into the tournament include Aryna Sabalenka, who beat 18-year-old qualifier Linda Noskova 6-3 7-6 (6-4) in the women’s final of the Adelaide International. Elsewhere, in the ASB Classic in Auckland, 18-year-old American Coco Gauff took the title by beating Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova 6-1, 6-1.
Other Women’s Australian Open Contenders
Other players who will have ambitions as Australian Open 2023 Women’s champion include:
- Jessica Pegula,
- Caroline Garcia,
- Barbora Krejcikova,
- Elena Rybakina,
- Belinda Bencic,
- Veronika Kudermetova,
- Maria Sakkari
- and last year’s beaten finalist, Danielle Collins
Notable Absentees
There are a few big-name absentees too, with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka recently announcing that she is pregnant, Elina Svitolina is expected to make her tennis comeback later this year after giving birth last October, while Simona Halep is ruled out after testing positive for the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.
It’s certainly tempting to go with Swiatek, but Sabalenka is in good form and looks to be in the easier half of the draw, so at 9/1 with Betway, she could represent decent each-way value.
Australian Open Tennis Betting Predictions
- Men’s Singles (Winner) – Novak Djokovic @ 9/10 with 888sport
- Women’s Singles (Each-way – 1/2 odds place 1, 2) – Aryna Sabalenka @ 9/1 with Betway
* Australian Open betting odds quoted correct at the time of writing. Subject to changes.
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