Serena Williams is the favorite to win the Australian Open that begins on Monday. Serena is listed with odds of just under 3-1 to win this Grand Slam event for the sixth time in her career. Is Serena the best choice to win, or are other players more likely to win down under? Let’s look at the current odds and some of the players who could challenge Serena.
Australian Open Odds
- Serena Williams 2.5-1
- Maria Sharapova 5-1
- Simona Halep 8-1
- Petra Kvitova 10-1
- Eugenie Bouchard 12-1
- Caroline Wozniacki 14-1
- Agnieszka Radwanska 14-1
- Victoria Azarenka 14-1
- Ana Ivanovic 23-1
- Garbine Muguruza Blanco 40-1
- Venus Williams 40-1
- Madison Keys 50-1
- Anqelique Kerber 60-1
- Lucie Safarova 60-1
- Ekaternina Makarova 80-1
- Samantha Stosur 85-1
- Sabine Lisicki 85-1
- Karolina Pliskova 100-1
- Alize Cornet 100-1
- Sloane Stephens 125-1
- Jelena Jankovic 125-1
- Dominika Cibulkova 125-1
- Flavia Pennetta 150-1
- Andrea Petkovic 150-1
- Sara Errani 150-1
- Camila Giorgi 150-1
- Elina Svitolina 150-1
- Carla Suarez Navarro 225-1
- Field 16-1
Serena Williams
The top ranked player in the world won the Australian Open in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and in 2010 but in the last four years she has not played well in this event as she has not gotten past the quarters. Serena didn’t play that well recently in the Hopman Cup but there are not many serious contenders and if Serena shows up motivated she could win. But that is a big question.
Maria Sharapova
She is ranked second in the world and, with Australian Open odds of 5-1, she offers more value than Serena. She has not won the Australian Open since 2008 but she comes in playing better than Serena. I like Sharapova as the best choice to win this year’s Australian Open.
Longshots
Everyone else behind Williams and Sharapova is a longshot. Simona Halep would seem to be the best longshot since she is ranked third. The concern is that she was sick and missed prep time in Australia. There is also not much value on her as a longshot at 8-1. Petra Kvitova is listed at 10-1 in Australian Open odds but she doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. Eugenie Bouchard is interesting at odds of 12-1 as she might make a run to the semifinals. It is hard to like Wozniacki who is dealing with an injury, Radwanska who has never won anything of significance or Azarenka who comes into the Australian Open unseeded.
The best longshot might actually be Venus Williams who is listed at 40-1 in tennis odds. She is playing as well as anyone right now and comes into the Australian Open full of confidence.
