2023 Australian Open Betting Odds: Novak Djokovic Big Favorite In Return While American Women Could Make Noise Again

The first major of the 2023 calendar year is nearly upon us. Per usual, it will be held down under in the Australian Open. The country is in the southern hemisphere which means while people in the Northeast are getting snowed on, Australia is enjoying its nice summer weather. The tournament is scheduled to start on Monday, January 16, but Americans can expect to be able to watch match matches on the 15th due to the time difference.

This will be the first major with the legendary Roger Federer and Serena Williams retired. Luckily there are still a number of big names in contention. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal headline the men’s side, while on the lady’s side, Coco Gauff will be aiming to earn her first Grand Slam title.

We’ll preview this tournament and take a look at the best betting odds.

Novak Djokovic is the favorite to equal Rafael Nadal’s all-time Grand Slam record at 22. Djokovic was a late scratch from the Australian Open last year because he was not vaccinated for COVID-19. This year, he will have an exemption to play. 

In the Serbian star’s last appearance in the Australian Open, he defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to capture his 18th Grand Slam title. Djokovic has won the Aussie Open nine times, including the last three he’s appeared in.

Djokovic’s biggest challenger may be Medvedev again. Medvedev lost to Rafael Nadal in last year’s Australian Open Final in a 5-set thriller. He’ll have the second-best odds to take home the hardware this year.

Even at age 36, Nadal is still a tough competitor. The Spaniard won two Grand Slam titles last year. Nadal has won the Australian Open two times over the course of his illustrious career.

Australian star Nick Kyrgios will be in the mix as well. Kyrgios will be looking to earn his first-ever Grand Slam title after losing to Djokovic in the Wimbledon Final in 2022. There’d be no better place to do it than in his home country.

18-year-old Coco Gauff is one of the sport’s bright young stars. Gauff is the world number seven right now and is the only teenager in the top 50. She had success last year in the Grand Slams, even making an appearance in the French Final. However, the young phenom was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open last year.

Iga Swiatek is the favorite to win this year’s Australian Open on the lady’s side. Swiatek is only 21 and already has three major titles to her name, including two in 2022. The Polish star has yet to win the Aussie Open but will be looking to change that in this year’s tournament.

New York native Jessica Pegula is set to be in contention. Pegula is from Buffalo and has slowly progressed throughout her career. Now 28, she will be looking to win her first major title. 

Pegula reached the quarterfinals in three of the four major tournaments last year but has never progressed further than that.

On the men’s side, it will be Novak Djokovic against the rest of the field. Djokovic, who is in minus money to win the tournament, will get things started on Tuesday against Roberto Carbelles Baena.

Nick Kyrgios has much longer odds then Djokovic but is still considered one of the favorites to win this year’s Aussie Open. Kyrigios’ best finish in this tournament came in 2015 when he reached the quarterfinals.

The American man with the best odds is Taylor Fritz. Fritz, 25, reached the Round of 16 in last year’s tournament and you can take him at +2100 on FanDuel to be crowned champion this year.

If you’re looking for American women with longer odds, Madison Keys and Danielle Collins are each good options. Each of them had success in major tournaments last year. In the Australian Open Keys reached the Semi-Finals while Collins reached the Final.

You can take Collins at +3400 or Keys at +3800 on FanDuel to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at tournament’s end.