The first Grand Slam of the new year starts up from Melbourne and there will be British interest once again at the Australian Open. Eight British players will be lining up in the first round at Melbourne Park. But realistically the chances of seeing any British success in terms of singles titles is slim at best. Here we take a look at the British Players’ odds at the 2019 Australian Open.
Andy Murray
40/1 outright winner
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Muzza isn’t a threat. Even when he was on top of his game he lost five Australian Open finals. You get the feeling it’s not meant to be. It has been a long way back for him and with such little tennis behind him after hip surgery last year, he’s not a contender. He had an early season defeat against Daniil Medvedev at the Brisbane International recently.
Murray wasn’t moving easily in a pre-tournament practice match against Novak Djokovic either. He gets a rough start at Melbourne Park too in taking on 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut and Murray is 11/5 underdog for the game* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Prediction: A first-round fall for Murray.
Kyle Edmund
100/1 outright winner
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Edmund is the British number one and currently ranked 14th in the world. But he had to withdraw from the Sydney international this week because of a knee problem. That’s a big setback for his chances at Melbourne Park. Edmund who had a tremendous semifinal run at the Australian Open last year opens against former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych.
A fully fit Edmund would easily heap some pressure on Berdych, but Edmund is 11/8 underdog* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm). He may just be worth a flutter because he has his serve up his sleeve and if the withdrawal from Sydney was precautionary then he has time to come back strong.
Perdition: Third round a step too far
Cameron Norrie
66/1 to win the third quarter
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Norrie is the British number two and is in the main draw of the Austrian Open for the first time in his young career. He is a player still on the up of course and expecting big things of him at this stage of the 22-year-old’s career isn’t the right way to go. Norrie will get to open against America’s Taylor Fritz. The two just met at in Auckland at the ASB Classic and Norrie won the duel to reach the semi-finals.
Prediction: Norrie to make the second round
Johanna Konta
18/1 to win 1st quarter
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Frankly, 2018 was a bust for Konta who couldn’t get on top of her game. Coaching changes and a drop of form has seen her become less of a threat. She has been out early this year, playing a good opener before having to withdraw from Sydney. So that’s a big setback to have to shake off if she is going to get anywhere in Melbourne.
Konta opens against Ajla Tomljanovic and a win there would put her through to a potential scrap against 18th seed Garbine Muguruza. All that is up in the first quarter where the likes of World Number One Simona Halep, Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova also are. Konta is 8/11 to win her opening match at the Australian Open* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm).
Prediction: A hard-earned opening win may leave her short in the second round.
Katie Boulter
7/5 to win the first round match
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Boulter, who is just inside the top 100 takes on a tough challenge of Ekaterina Makarova in the opening round. Makarova is ranked 57th in the world. The youngster, who incidentally was runner up in the 2014 Girls Australian Open, needs more experience at this kind of level. You imagine that the experience of her opponent has to win out in this first round duel.
Prediction: Sadly a first-round exit for Boulter
Heather Watson
11/8 to win the first round match
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm)
Watson was torn apart in Hobart recently against Irina-Camelia Begu and with her having only been past the first round in one of her last five Australian Open attempts, she may find the quality at Melbourne Park too much again. She takes on Petra Martic who is ranked 31st in the world. The two are pretty similar in their careers, aside from the fact that Martic hasn’t won a WTA title while Watson has three. Still, Martic has tremendous appeal at 4/7 odds-on to win this first-ever meeting* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm).
Prediction: Another misfire for Watson in Melbourne
Harriet Dart
3/1 to win the first round match
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 11th, 2019 at 5:04 pm)
Harriet Dart has qualified for her first Major tournament. She was handed a wildcard at Wimbledon last year, but she has made the Australian Open main draw having come through qualification matches. She gets a high profile opponent too in the first round of the draw. Dart, who is the current world number 132 took out Serbia’s Ivana Jorovic in her final qualification match in three sets. That puts her into the first round at Melbourne Park against Maria Sharapova. Dart is the 3/1 underdog for the match* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 11th, 2019 at 4:32 pm).
Prediction: Dart is likely to fall at the first hurdle
Dan Evans
2/5 to win the first round match
* (betting odds was taken from bet365 on January 11th, 2019 at 4:32 pm)
Dan Evans came through his qualification campaign to reach the main draw of a major tournament for this first time following his return to the game following a drugs ban last year. Evans will be going up against Tatsuma Ito in the first round of the Australian Open 2019 draw. His Japanese opponent also came through the qualifiers to reach the main draw. This is actually going to be a big match for both of them because the winner is likely to face legend Roger Federer in the second round. Evans is the 2/5 odds-on favourite to win that opening match* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 11th, 2019 at 4:32 pm)
Prediction: Second round exit for Evans
