ATP Australian Open Odds and Betting Preview - Djokovic favourite to win third title

Story by Harry Maude on 2012-01-12 16:27:34

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Having had their winter break, the World's top tennis stars will be busily preparing for the first major tournament of the year, the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic won this event last year before going on to claim both the Wimbledon and US Open titles, and the Serb is a hot favourite to win here for the third time, best priced at 11/8 with Ladbrokes.

2011 was the year that Djokovic's immense potential came into fruition, and he will go into this tournament as World No.1. Unlike last year, Djokovic has not played in a warmup tournament, as he did in both his previous wins at Melbourne. Nevertheless, he is a worthy favourite, having lost only six matches in 2011.

Next in the betting is Roger Federer, who is a 4/1 shot with Paddy Power. Federer reached the semi-finals here last year, but was beaten in straight sets by Djokovic, before going on to endure his first season without a Grand Slam win since 2002. However, Federer looked to have come back to something like his best with his victory in the ATP World Tour Finals last November, and he warmed up for this event in Qatar, where he made the semi-finals before withdrawing from his match against Joe Wilfried Tsonga due to a back problem.

The third favourite for the event is Andy Murray, who has made the final here in both of the last two years. The Scot is still looking for his first Grand Slam title, but usually plays very well here and must have a leading chance. He has warmed up for this by taking the Brisbane International, beating Alexandr Dolgolopov in the final, and has appointed a new head coach, Ivan Lendl. Lendl, who won eight Grand Slams in his illustrious career, should help Murray to break his duck, and this could be the tournament to do it. Murray is a general 5/1 shot to go one better than the last two years.

The World No. 2, Rafael Nadal is a best priced 7/1 with BetVictor. Nadal has won here once, in 2009, but has failed to advance past the semi-finals in the last two years, when he was suffering from injury, and he is still plagued by his injury doubts. Nadal also reached the semi-final in Qatar, when he was knocked out by Gael Monfils, and the second seed seems to be up against against more in form players.

Next in the betting is Juan Martin del Potro, who is an 18/1 shot with Coral. Del Potro has had more than his fair share of injury problems since his US Open triumph in 2009. Del Potro was top seed for the Sydney International this week, but lost out to Marcos Bagdhatis in the quarter finals. He will need to come back to his best to win here, and he seems some way short of that at the moment.

Joe Wilfried Tsonga comes into this tournament on the back of a win in the Qatar Open, and having reached the final in 2008 as an unseeded player, he has pedigree at this tournament. Tsonga also made the final of the World Tour Finals last year, and there could be some value in his best price of 20/1 with Skybet.

ATP Australian Open winner betting odds