Australian Open 2021: favourites, predictions & betting odds
As usual, the tennis year starts with a real blast, namely one of the four Grand Slams. More precisely, the Australian Open 2021, which was postponed due to Covid-19, but is still the first big highlight.
Instead of January, this time the tournament will take place from February 8 to 21, 2021.
Of course, the two German-speaking top stars Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem will be there again. Along with defending champions Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, they are among the favourites for the title.
Betting odds: who will win the Australian Open 2021?
Betting Tips: Novak Djokovic
Odds: 2.20
Betting Tips: Rafael Nadal
Odds: 6.00
Betting Tips: Dominic Thiem
Odds: 6.00
Betting Tips: Daniil Medvedev
Odds: 6.00
Betting Tips: Stefanos Tsitsipas
Odds: 13.00
Betting Tips: Alexander Zverev
Odds: 17.00
Australian Open 2021: players, stats and previous winners
At the right start of the new tennis year, the best players in the world naturally dance to it, especially when they feel comfortable on the hardcourt.
The top 3 in the world rankings – defending champion Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, last year’s finalist Dominic Thiem – and Germany’s number 1 Alexander Zverev are also there. Roger Federer, however, has to pass due to a knee operation.
Unsurprisingly, this quartet is one of the favourites for the title of the sports betting providers at the Australian Open betting odds. Above all the Serbian, who has to be beaten in his favourite tournament.
Source: extratips.com
The selection of favourites is of course also based on the ATP world rankings. This currently looks like this:
ATP world rankings from 3.2. before the Australian Open 2021:
Novak Djokovic 12,030 points
Rafael Nadal 9,850 points
Dominic Thiem 9,125 points
Daniil Medvedev 8,470 points
Roger Federer * 6,630 points
Stefanos Tsitsipas 5,940 points
Alexander Zverev 5,615 points
Andrey Rublev 4,179 points
Diego Schwartzman 3,455 points
Matteo Berrettini 3,215 points
* Knee surgery
The favourites for the Australian Open 2021
The circle of favourites for a win at the Australian Open 2021 can be limited to five participants and even here some only have rough outsider chances.
Always Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open?
When it comes to the men’s singles at the Australian Open, you simply cannot avoid Novak Djokovic.
This prediction is also shared by the betting providers, who see Djokovic as the biggest favourites for the tournament victory with their Australian Open odds and bets before the start of the tournament.
If you disregard the liaison between the French Open and Nadal, no tournament in recent years has been so influenced by an athlete as Djokovic’s tournament in Melbourne.
Since his first title in 2008, the trophy has not gone to the 33-year-old Serb only five times. Fun fact: Only one of these five titles did not go to a Swiss, Nadal 2009. Otherwise, three went to Federer and one to Stan Wawrinka.
The world number one is currently simply the best tennis player on the planet, but his aura and his naturalness at the Australian Open make him even harder to beat there.
Second Australian Open title for Rafael Nadal?
If tournaments take place on the hardcourt and not on the sand, Rafael Nadal is usually not one of the first names to be mentioned.
His last (and only) win at the Australian Open was twelve years ago. Nevertheless, the Spaniard is still number two in the world and one of the best tennis players of all time.
You can never take a man of his calibre lightly anyway. The 34-year-old has made it to the Melbourne final four times since 2009.
He failed twice due to Djokovic, once each to Federer and Wawrinka. Two of the final matches lasted five sets, so the Spaniard usually offered a tough fight.
With the right flow and possibly a bit of luck, Nadal is still a top candidate at the Australian Open 2021.
Will last year’s finalist Thiem win the title coup this year?
Number three in the ATP world rankings is considered a serious challenger to title favourite Djokovic according to the Australian Open betting odds.
On average among betting providers, the Austrian has the lowest tournament winner odds of the Australian Open 2021. A fact that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Last year he reached the final in Melbourne (but lost to Djokovic in five sets), at the US Open he was able to conquer his first Grand Slam title and at the ATP Finals 2020, he was in the final for the second time in a row.
Thiem is currently, it can definitely be said, at the height of his previous work.
The former clay-court specialist has increasingly become an all-rounder and is therefore already a fixture on hard surfaces.
Daniil Medvedev at the front of the Australian Open
Daniil Medvedev is also currently at a high in his career. In November last year, the Russian won two prestigious (hard court) tournaments.
First, there would be the Masters1000 in Paris-Bercy and then, of course, the victory at the ATP Finals against Thiem. This means he has moved up to fourth in the world rankings, past Federer.
In the Australian Open betting odds for the title win, he is sometimes even set on par with Thiem before the start of the tournament, often even before Nadal.
Australian Open odds: will Alexander Zverev have the dream start in 2021?
The German hope is unsurprisingly Alexander Zverev. The 23-year-old had a very successful 2020.
He won the home doubles in Cologne, and he also reached two prestigious finals – in Paris-Bercy and at the US Open. It was his first Grand Slam final.
At the US Open, after a two-set lead, it was also his head that denied him his first major title. If he gets the mental aspect under control, a lot is also possible for Zverev at the Australian Open. After all, he was in the semi-finals here last year.
Results of last year’s Australian Open 2021 participants
Novak Djokovic 39-3 92.1% Rome, Cincinnati, Dubai, Australian Open
Rafael Nadal 25-5 80% French Open, Acapulco
Dominic Thiem 22-7 68.2% US Open
Alexander Zverev 27-9 66.7% Cologne 1, Cologne 2
Stefanos Tsitsipas 28-12 57.1% Marseille
Daniil Medvedev 23-10 56.5% Paris
Australian Open bets & odds: who will win the women?
Betting Tips: Naomi Osaka
Odds: 6.75
Betting Tips: Aryna Sabalenka
Odds: 7:00
Betting Tips: Serena Williams
Odds: 12.00
Betting Tips: Simona Halep
Odds: 12.00
Betting Tips: Ashleigh Barty
Odds: 12.00
Betting Tips: Sofia Kenin
Odds: 14.40
Things are very different for women than for men.
There have been six different winners in the past seven years – only Serena Williams can call two titles her own during this period.
Apart from that, the Australian Open were always good for surprises. For example Li Na 2014, the very young Naomi Osaka 2019 or the unforgettable Angelique Kerber 2016.
Who will win the women – Osaka, Williams or Sabalenka?
As the favourite of the Australian Open odds, Naomi Osaka goes into the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
The 23-year-old Japanese has won a Grand Slam in each of the last three years. In 2018 and 2020 it was the US Open, in 2019 the title at the AO – in conclusion, the Melbourne title should be here again.
Behind them lies Serena Williams, the most successful tennis player of all time. A Grand Slam title is missing from the 39-year-old on Margaret Court’s record (24). She has already won seven times in Melbourne – so the place suits her.
Ashleigh Barty, number 1 in the WTA world rankings, is also a contender for the tennis odds for winning the Australian Open. However, she plays against the statistics: Since 1978 there has been no Australian winner in this major event.
An insider tip at the Australian Open bets could be Aryna Sabalenka.
Because the Belarusian is still without a Grand Slam success and at the Australian Open, she never got past the third round. However, their hard court is, as the WTA 500 title in Abu Dhabi at the end of January proves.
Will Kerber win the Australian Open?
Betting Tips: Kerber Australian Open winner
Odds: 34.00
The women behind are already falling a little behind with the betting providers.
So did Sofia Kenin, although the US-American even won the competition last year. Repetition is very unlikely, but the Australian Open always has surprises in store for the women.
Angelique Kerber has to hope for just such because the German hope is already far behind with its quotas. The 33-year-old is in 25th place in the world and is unlikely to have much to do with the trophy.
Australian Open 2021: broadcast on TV & Livestream
As every year, the Australian Open 2021 can be easily followed on free TV and via live stream.
Program & schedule of the Australian Open 2021
Monday, February 9 1st round men/women
Tuesday, February 10 1st round men/women
Wednesday, February 11 2nd round men/women
Thursday, February 12 2nd round men/women
Friday, February 13 3rd round men/women
Saturday, February 14 3rd round men/women
Sunday, February 15 Round of 16 men/women
Monday, February 16 Round of 16 men/women
Tuesday, February 17th quarter-finals men/women
Wednesday, February 18 quarter-finals men/women
Thursday, February 19 semi-finals men/women
Friday, February 20 semi-finals men/women
Saturday, February 21- Women’s final
Sunday, February 22- Men final men
