It’s been a chaotic first week at the 2023 Australian Open, to say the least.
This year’s Happy Slam was already without a plethora of prized players due to the retirement of legends (Williams, Federer), last-minute injuries (Alcaraz, Kyrgios), doping suspensions (Halep), and even pregnancies (Osaka).
And now Rafael Nadal has bowed out early.
The defending men’s champ winced often in Wednesday’s match as he was wiped out in straight sets by 63rd-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald. With another star sidelined, this thing is wide open in both the men’s and women’s fields.
Here’s a look at the updated Australian Open Odds from top tennis betting sites.
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Men’s Australian Open Odds
Top contenders
Novak Djokovic (-130)
It’s no surprise that the Aussie Open Grandmaster is still the favorite on the men’s side.
Djokovic is seeking his record-extending 10th championship at Melbourne Park and has won it the last three times he’s played in it. The slick Serb was unscathed in Round 1, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
He’s been his sharp self to start the season, going 6-0 on the hard court and earning the Adelaide International title with a victory over Sebastian Korda. He’ll now face France’s Enzo Couacaud (190th) in the second round.
Daniil Medvedev (+390)
Daniil Medvedev has yet to drop a set through two rounds and looks like he has his eye on a third straight Australian Open finals appearance.
The former world No. 1 lost in a thrilling heartbreaker to Rafa Nadal in last year’s final, but he won’t have to worry about a repeat this January with Nadal already bounced.
Medvedev’s next match will be a test as he faces upstart American Sebastian Korda, who is 6-1 on the hard court this season.
Dark Horses
Stefanos Tsitsipas (+1500)
After two straight semis appearances (three total) in Melbourne, Tsitsipas seems primed to take the next step this year. Tsitsipas is 6-0 on hard court this season and 183-95 in his career.
The 24-year-old Greek has been flawless through two rounds at the Aussie and will now look forward to his Round 3 matchup vs. the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor.
The 61st-ranked Dutchman had never passed the second round of a Grand Slam before now.
Frances Tiafoe (+4800)
Frances Tiafoe has already punched his ticket into Round 3 after a convincing victory over China’s Juncheng Shang.
The feisty American is coming off his best year as a pro, in a season that saw him reach the semis at the US Open and the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Tiafoe had his best Aussie Open appearance in 2019 when he made the quarterfinals as a 20-year-old. He’ll now square off in Round 3 against Russia’s 20th-ranked Karen Khachanov.
Women’s Australian Open Odds
Top contenders
Iga Swiatek (+170)
Women’s tennis has a clear top dog, and her name is Iga Swiatek.
The powerful Pole has been pummeling opponents for the better part of two years and is deservedly the WTA’s No. 1. Warsaw’s finest had a dominant 2022 that saw her win a record-setting 37 matches and two Grand Slams (French, US Open).
She fell short in the 2022 Aussie semifinals and will be determined to add Melbourne Park to her collection of Slams this year.
Jessica Pegula (+650)
American Jessica Pegula has been on a mission for the last couple of seasons.
The 28-year-old lived in relative tennis obscurity for the first decade of her career but climbed all the way to world No. 3 in 2022.
The late-blooming Buffalonian made the quarters in three of the year’s Slams (French, Aussie, US) and reached the third round at Wimbledon.
She’s yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park through two rounds and will now lock horns with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in Round 3.
Dark horses
Coco Gauff (+1200)
Coco crushed it on the court in 2022. The former 15-year-old phenom is all grown up at 18 and is playing like it.
Gauff reached her first Grand Slam final at the French last year, falling to Iga Swiatek in straight sets. She followed that up with a quarter’s appearance at the US Open before again being ousted in straights to Caroline Garcia.
The world No. 7 is 7-0 on hard court this season and has been convincing through two rounds at the Aussie. Her Round 3 opponent will be countrymate Pera Bernarda, whose third-round appearance is a Grand Slam career best.
Ons Jabeur (+2000)
Ons Jabeur put the tennis world on notice last year with an outstanding season that included finals appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open.
The Tunisian titan shot up the WTA rankings in 2022 and entered the Australian Open as the world No. 2.
Jabeur was tested in Round 1 with a three-set victory over Tamara Zidansek. She’ll now face 23-year-old Czech Marketa Vondrousova. They’ve met four times before, with Jabeur holding the 3-1 edge.
