The first Grand Slam of the 2023 tennis season begins Down Under with the Australian Open in Melbourne. Rafael Nadal won here last year but has struggled with form and injury in recent months. Novak Djokovic, who is only one Grand Slam behind Nadal in the all-time rankings, returns to the scene of his most successful tournament after being unable to compete last year due to Covid regulations. The Serb begins the tournament as favourite and recent form suggests it will take a huge effort for anybody to stop him.

World Number One and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss the tournament due to injury, while several contenders including Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be aiming to grab their maiden Grand Slam title.

On the women’s side of the draw, World Number One Iga Swiatek will be looking to go a couple of steps better than last year when she reached the semi-finals, and will begin the tournament as favourite to grab the trophy after a stellar 2022 season where she won the French Open and US Open.

We look at the top five Spreadex Sports betting favourites on the fixed odds and spread betting prices and assess their chances, as well as highlighting a dark horse/outsider in both draws!

EDIT - Nick Kyrgios withdrew ahead of his first round match, so Andy Murray replaces him as the 'underdog' pick

MEN’S DRAW (FIXED ODDS PRICE | SPREAD BETTING SPREAD)

WHAT PRICE IS NOVAK DJOKOVIC TO WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC – Evens | 36.5 – 39.5

The Serbian has arguably been the most in-form player in the last six months or so and would have likely been favoured to win the US Open if not for Covid restrictions restricting him entry into the USA. Since Wimbledon, he played in five tournaments and won four of those (losing the Paris Masters final) - including the World Tour finals. With nine Australian Opens won in his career already, he comes into this one as a huge favourite to win number ten and draw level with Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slams. Can anyone stop him?

WHAT ARE DANIIL MEDVEDEV’S ODDS TO WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV – 11/2 | 17.5 – 20.5

The Russian’s career has stalled slightly in recent times since winning his first Grand Slam and reaching the World Number One ranking, with several average performances meaning a slip in his ranking and hopes of setting himself apart as the new dominant force in men’s tennis. However, he has already reached two finals Down Under and was on the brink of defeating Nadal last year before a stirring comeback from the Spaniard. Could he make it third time lucky here and begin his 2023 season with a bang?

WHAT ARE STEFANOS TSITSIPAS’ ODDS TO WIN HIS FIRST GRAND SLAM IN MELBOURNE?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS – 12/1 | 12 – 15

The Greek has been a steadily improving force at the top of the men’s game in recent years but has so far not fully been able to harness his potential by winning a Grand Slam. He came closest to doing that at Roland Garros in 2020 when the lost the final to Djokovic but has only managed to reach the semi finals here in Australia, albeit on three separate occasions. After being one of the most consistent performers on tour last season, can he finally make the big Grand Slam break here?

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF RAFAEL NADAL WINNING GRAND SLAM NUMBER 23 AND DEFENDING HIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE?

RAFAEL NADAL – 12/1 | 10 – 13

The Spaniard produced some magic to win his first Australian Open since 2009 (and second overall) twelve months ago as he managed an unlikely comeback from two sets down to beat Medvedev. He then followed that up by winning yet another French Open title, but since suffering a recurrence of an injury at Wimbledon which forced him out ahead of the semi-finals, there have been rumblings that retirement may not be too far away. Nadal has refuted that himself, but several uncharacteristic performances and defeats in recent months have cast doubt whether he still possesses his best level of tennis – which is why he is available at fairly long odds for a defending champion. Can he roll back the years once again and defy the doubters to win Grand Slam number 23?

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF TAYLOR FRITZ BEING THE FIRST MALE AMERICAN GRAND SLAM WINNER IN 20 YEARS?

TAYLOR FRITZ – 14/1 | 11.5 – 14.5

Taylor Fritz has been one of the most-improved players on the men’s tour over the last year or so, and some of his standout performances have included his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, an epic 5-set quarter-final defeat at Wimbledon against Nadal, a semi-final at the World Tour finals, and winning the inaugural United Cup as part of Team USA to kick off his 2023 season. Fritz has improved his game in almost all aspects, and has the weapons to be dangerous for anybody on these hard courts. Can he be the first American male to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick way back in 2003?

CAN andy murray BE THE DARK HORSE AND WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

ANDY MURRAY – 100/1 | 2.5 – 3.5

While the original dark horse pick was Australia's Nick Kyrgios, his pullout due to injury before his first round match means Britain's Andy Murray may be one to watch to produce some magic in this fortnight. The five-time Australian Open finalist and three-time Grand Slam winner is one of several 'old guard' players who are still active at an advanced age after injury troubles, but at the time of writing Murray has booked his place in the second round after a five-set win over 17th seed Matteo Berrettini, his first top-20 win in six years. Murray has struggled with fitness in recent years more than his tennis skills, but he looks to be stronger this season and will be full of confidence after the epic first round victory. At 100/1 going into the second round, could the Brit be worth a punt?

WOMEN’S DRAW (FIXED ODDS PRICE | SPREAD BETTING SPREAD)

WHAT ARE WORLD NUMBER ONE IGA SWIATEK’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN ODDS?

IGA SWIATEK – 5/2 | 22 – 25

Since Ash Barty’s surprising retirement following winning this trophy last year, Iga Swiatek has emerged as the dominant force in the women’s game. The Polish player produced an incredible unbeaten streak and won two of the four Grand Slams to solidify herself as the number one player in the world. However, she could not win the World Tour Finals, and the two players who contested that particular final will likely be the two main rivals for Swiatek here. Will the Pole be able to add the Australian Open to her Grand Slam trophy cabinet?

WHAT ARE ARYNA SABALENKA’S ODDS AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

ARYNA SABALENKA – 7/1 | 12.5 – 15.5

The Belarusian has long been seen as a contender for top honours due to her huge game – especially her serve – but has so far been held back by mental weaknesses. Her best performances at Grand Slams have been reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, but she has so far only been able to reach the fourth round of this tournament. Can she finally perform to her peak level and challenge for her first Grand Slam title here?

WHAT ARE CAROLINE GARCIA’S ODDS AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

CAROLINE GARCIA – 11/1 | 10 – 13

The Frenchwoman has been a contender on the tour for several years, but achieved her best result to date in that victory over Sabalenka at the World Tour finals. Like Sabalenka, she also reached the semi-finals of the US Open in September and will be hopeful of continuing that form to challenge for the title in Australia. Garcia has also only reached the fourth round as her best result here but will be confident of at least surpassing that.

WHAT ARE JESSICA PEGULA’S ODDS TO WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

JESSICA PEGULA – 12/1 | 9 – 12

USA’s Pegula has been one of the more consistent performers in the last year on the WTA Tour and reached the quarter-final at three of the four Grand Slams, as well as reaching a career-high of third in the world rankings. She has reached the last eight twice in a row here in fact, and comes into the tournament off the back of being part of the USA winning team in the United Cup. Can Pegula be a contender to win her first major?

WHAT ARE COCO GAUFF’S ODDS TO WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

COCO GAUFF – 12/1 | 8 – 10

Since bursting onto the scene as a fifteen-year-old, the USA’s Coco Gauff has been a steady performer at the top of the women’s game – and still being just 18 has plenty of years to improve and grow as a player. She came mightily close to claiming her maiden Slam at the French Open in 2022 and has already had a career-high ranking of number four. Can she follow in the footsteps of her idols the Williams sisters and claim a maiden grand slam here?

WHAT ARE EMMA RADUCANU’S ODDS TO BE THE DARK HORSE AND WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

EMMA RADUCANU – 66/1 | 1.5 – 3.5

And finally, British interest in the women’s draw will surely be on 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. After a hugely disappointing 2022 season, Raducanu has been battling injuries – including this season – with some doubts about her participation at full health here. However, the young Brit has shown she has the ability to perform at the very top level, and with the pressure seemingly less on her shoulders than immediately in the aftermath of her US Open win, could she go on a surprise run Down Under? At 66/1 on the fixed odds and at a spread of just 1.5 – 3.5, Raducanu could prove to be a real dark horse for punters.

SPECIAL MARKETS

Watch out for some of our special markets, including Hometown Hero, Name the Finalists, and Quarter Winner(s)! See all of our markets here.

Spread betting punters can also make use of our Spread Free Bets offer (10-5 Supremacy and Total Games Played markets only) to get a little extra free when spread betting on the tennis action! Find out more about that here.