Australian Open betting outright winners tips and preview for men's and women's tournaments

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic robbed an entire generation of top players the chance to win Grand Slam titles; such was their consistent brilliance.

The ‘Big Three’ held a virtual monopoly on the majors for over 20 years and while Djokovic will line up again at the forthcoming Australian Open as a piping hot pre-tournament favourite, this is the first time since 1999 there will be no Federer or Nadal in the draw. 

Swiss legend Federer retired in 2022 as a 20-time Grand Slam winner. Nadal is still going but the Spaniard missing this year’s Australian Open with a muscle tear is a body blow for organisers.

Nadal – on a farewell tour in 2024 - is one of the greatest players of all-time and it would have been fascinating to have seen him land in Melbourne fully fit.

It was not to be however and instead we have Djokovic as an 11/10 betting jolly to win what would be an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title (and record-extending 11th men’s Australian Open singles title).

There is a great saying in sports that ‘Father Time is undefeated’. This of course alludes to the fact that no athlete, in any sport, has ever overcome what aging does to his or her body and their ability to perform at the highest level. 

Yet if Father Time really is unbeaten, somebody really needs to let Novak know. What he is doing at the age of 36 is almost unprecedented.

He won three out of the four Grand Slams last year, and the ATP Tour Finals. The GOAT argument is fast becoming obsolete, and writers and commentators are running out of superlatives to describe what he is doing at tennis’ top table.

He is almost superhuman, and he certainly will not be fazed by his draw in Melbourne, where he faces a qualifier first up.

Tennis fans of a certain vintage will be hoping Djokovic bumps into Andy Murray in round three, but for that to happen Murray will need to negate a path past 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina in the opening round.

For the first time in a while though, there is real hope for Novak’s rivals Down Under.

The Serb genuinely struggled with a wrist problem in a defeat to Alex de Minuar in the United Cup in Perth recently, and there is no guarantee his forehand and/or serve will be firing at 100% when the tournament kicks off.   

That could play into the hands of Jannik Sinner, the brilliant Italian who beat Djokovic in Davis Cup action at the end of 2023. Sinner is going to have a huge 2024, and it will be fascinating to see where his game is at Melbourne Park.

Daniil Medvedev and Grigor Dimitrov (whose 40/1 odds certainly need attention as a possible each-way play) are others who could have a big fortnight if Djokovic is not at his best level. However, I feel that Carlos Alcaraz is the bet here at 100/30. 

At his very best watching Alcaraz on court is akin to watching Michael Jordan play basketball.

He is still only 20, but will be attempting to join a list of just seven other male players this century who have reached the semi-finals of all four majors by reaching the business end in Melbourne.

In terms of the draw Sinner - the fourth seed - has fallen in Djokovic’s half, with third seed Medvedev occupying Alcaraz’s half.

‘Carlitos’ thwarted the Calendar Slam for Djokovic by beating him at Wimbledon, and just after Christmas came from a set down to beat Djokovic 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup.

Alcaraz meets Richard Gasquet in his opening match and will need to find his feet quickly after opting not to compete in a warm up event.

Yet Gasquet in 2024 is not the free-spirited danger he once was, so quotes of 100/30 on Alcaraz to win the lot look really appealing given how capable he is on this type of surface.

In the women’s event, Iga Swiatek is the betting favourite. No arguments with that given her level for most on 2023.

However, the Pole could again be vulnerable Down Under (her best ever performance here was a 2022 semi-final). Swiatek is often unplayable on clay, but can struggle against the monster servers on the WTA Tour when conditions are quick. 

Aryna Sabalenka is the defending champion, and will have her backers at odds north of 5/1. The Belarussian has next-level power, but can also fall apart mentally in big moments when her serve lets her down and the double faults pile up. 

At current odds 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina look a better bet to go one better than she did in 2023. In last year’s women’s final in Melbourne, Sabalenka outlasted Rybakina in a classic. 

The draw has been interesting. Fourth seeded Coco Gauff has been drawn into Sabalenka’s half, with Rybakina occupying Swiątek’s top half of the draw.

Plenty fancy Gauff to pick up where she left off at the US Open. However Rybakina recently put on a clinic against Sabalenka in the 2024 Brisbane final, with the ‘Ice Queen’ routing the Belarussian superstar 6-0 6-3.

If Rybakina is anywhere near that level in Melbourne, it will more than likely be good enough to see her land her first Australian Open title. 

Australian Open betting tips:

 - Carlos Alcaraz to win the Australian Open

-  Elena Rybakina to win the Australian Open