Australian Open Men’s Singles 2018 – Odds and Preview

Dimitrov looks ready to land on the world stage

Tennis Betting

Bookmakers aren’t exactly running scared regarding Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Men’s Singles as neither man will find it easy in their respective halves of the draw.

Nadal is the current world number one, the oldest ever, but hasn’t played a competitive match since pulling out of the ATP World Championships in London in November. Injury has dogged the Spaniard in recent years and his half of the draw includes Marin Cilic, home favourite Nick Kyrgios, Jack Sock and Grigor Dimitrov.

Federer, the defending champion but 37 this year, faces potential matches against a restored-to-health Novak Djokovic, now only ranked 14 in the world after last year’s trials and tribulations, Juan Del Potro, David Goffin and Alexander Zverev. There is a British connection in Federer’s opening clash as he faces Aljaz Bedene, who has re-adopted homeland Slovenia after failing numerous times to play for Great Britain’s Davis Cup team.

Australian Open 2018 Men Infographic

Qualifying has decimated most British interest in the Men’s Singles and, after Andy Murray’s hip surgery, only Kyle Edmunds has made the line-up in Melbourne. The world number 49 will do well to get beyond the first round of the main draw, however, as he faces 11th seed Kevin Anderson, beaten finalist at Flushing Meadows last year. The pair met last year in the French Open with Edmund losing in five sets against the big-serving South African, who is  general 66/1. Edmund, who has had an ankle injury, is 250/1 with 10Bet.

Roger Federer is a best 2/1 with Boylesports to win the Men’s Singles in Melbourne with Nadal at 5/1 with BetBright but I’m not sure either offer much in the way of value at those odds. Federer’s age didn’t prevent him winning two Slams last year and he’s trying for a sixth Australian Open but he’s going to find it increasingly harder to keep younger guns at bay and will again spread his workload in 2018. He is, however, by far the most healthy of the so-called ‘Big Five’.

Nadal has only won one Australian Open and that was back in 2009, though he has reached three finals since including last year. Djokovic has won one more Australian Open than Federer and will be a threat to all if he really is back to his best. Last year was the first time in 10 years that he’d failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open at least. After a couple of warm-ups, it will be interesting to see how that elbow holds up in serious competition but he has a nightmare draw.

Nick Kyrgios has a habit of self-destructing but if he’s ever going to win a Slam it will be in Melbourne. The talent is there, but is the application? The Aussie number one is only a general 16/1, however. Beaten in an epic semi-final last year by Rafa Nadal, GRIGOR DIMITROV looks a decent bet to go all the way this year at the general 10/1.

The Bulgarian came good last year and proved himself more than capable of competing against the best when taking the ATP World Championship. You could pick holes in that success with no Murray or Djokovic, Federer looking jaded and Nadal withdrawing through injury but he begins the New Year as world number three and reached the semi-finals of the Brisbane International last week to prove his well-being. He looks much stronger, physically and mentally, nowadays and could be ready to break into the big time.

Andrey Rublev is a general 125/1 but big things are expected of the young Russian in the months ahead and he’ll probably improve on whatever he achieves in Melbourne and the always-dangerous Stan Wawrinka has been largely ignored at around the 40/1 mark.

Australian Open 2018 Men’s Singles Current Best Odds

Roger Federer 2/1, Rafael Nadal 5/1, Novak Djokovic 6/1, Grigor Dimitrov 10/1, Alexander Zverev 14/1, Nick Kyrgios 16/1, Juan Del Potro 18/1, David Goffin 20/1, Dominic Thiem and Marin Cilic 33/1, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic 40/1, Jack Sock and Kevin Anderson 66/1, Roberto Bautista-Agut 80/1, Gael Monfils, Denis Shapovalov, Lucas Pouille and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 100/1, Andrey Rublev 125/1, Tomas Berdych and John Isner 150/1