Novak Djokovic is a big favorite to win the Australian Open which begins next week. Can anyone top Djokovic in the year’s first Grand Slam event or will Djokovic win the Australian Open for the fifth time in his career?
Australian Open Odds
- Novak Djokovic -105
- Roger Federer 6-1
- Andy Murray 9-1
- Rafael Nadal 11-1
- Stanislas Wawrinka 14-1
- Kei Nishikori 14-1
- Milos Raonic 22-1
- Grigor Dimitrov 40-1
- Tomas Berdych 45-1
- David Ferrer 60-1
- Nick Kyrgios 88-1
- Juan Martin del Potro 100-1
- David Goffin 110-1
- Bernard Tomic 125-1
- Ernests Gulbis 152-1
- Jerzy Janowicz 182-1
- Gael Monfils 200-1
- John Isner 200-1
- Feliciano Lopez 400-1
- Fernando Verdasco 400-1
- Richard Gasquet 500-1
- Field 15-1
Federer Looking to Win Down Under Again
Roger Federer is showing that even at age 34 he is still a great player. He won at Brisbane and comes into the Australian Open playing better than any of the other top players. The problem for Federer is that even at his current best he is still a notch below Djokovic.
Wawrinka Unlikely to Defend
A year ago it was Stan Wawinka shocking Djokovic in the quarterfinals and then going on to win the Australian Open as he beat Nadal in the finals. Much of the rest of last year was not that good for Wawrinka as he was very inconsistent. He did finish last season ranked fourth in the world but it is looking more like last year’s win at the Australian Open was a fluke and not something to expect again. No defending Australian Open champion has failed to at least make the quarterfinals the next year since 1999 but Wawrinka is no lock to make it that far this year.
Djokovic Expected to Win
The top player in the world is expected to win in Melbourne for the fifth time. Djokovic has won four Australian Open titles in his career which is tied with Roger Federer and Andre Agassi for the most in the Open era. Djokovic had won three straight until losing last season in the quarterfinals to Wawrinka. There are really no true challengers to Djokovic right now.
The contender who is playing well at the moment is Federer but his best days are long since gone and it would take Djokovic playing poorly for Federer to win. Nadal would be a good challenger but he is still coming back from injury. Nadal was recently beaten by Michael Berrer in Qatar. Murray and Wawrinka are not up to the challenge and can’t be considered serious contenders.
The bottom line is that Djokovic is a deserving favorite and he should win his fifth Australian Open title.
