The tennis season kicks off in grand fashion when the 2024 Australian Open begins play this week. The Australian Open is the first of the four major Grand Slam tournaments held during the tennis season.
Players will be vying to start their season right. Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are the defending champions on each side. Will they defend their titles, or will we have new players in the winners’ circle?
2024 Australian Open
January 14, 2024 – January 28, 2024
Novak Djokovic To Win The Australian Open
Right now, handicapping men’s Grand Slams can be fairly simple. Novak Djokovic is simply a level above the rest of the field. On the surfaces of clay and grass, Djokovic can be a little more vulnerable. However, on his preferred hard courts, Djokovic is close to unstoppable.
With Rafael Nadal withdrawing from the field, Novak Djokovic’s main rivals for this tournament will be:
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Daniil Medvedev
- Jannik Sinner
Each man has excellent reasons why they think they could defeat the world’s best player.
Alcaraz defeated Djokovic at Wimbledon last season. He has the playing style to overcome Novak Djokovic. However, this is Djokovic’s best surface, a fast hard court. Therefore, while Alcaraz is live, this will be the toughest Grand Slam of the season for Alcaraz to upset Djokovic.
Daniil Medvedev made the Australian Open final in 2021 but fell to Novak Djokovic there. Medvedev has a tough quarter of the draw, potentially facing Felix Auger-Aliassime, Grigor Dimitrov, and up-and-coming Holger Rune (now under the guidance of Boris Becker).
ATP Pick
For his career, Novak Djokovic has an 89-8 record at the Australian Open and has not lost a final here in the last 5 years. He is the greatest Australian Open champion in the history of the sport. The quick hard courts accentuate his offense yet play well for his unflappable defensive style.
A fully rested Djokovic on this surface is too much for these young contenders to overcome. Don’t overthink it. Bet Novak Djokovic to win the Australian Open.
ATP Pick: Novak Djokovic to Win the Australian Open (-117) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
Elena Rybakina To Win The Australian Open
Elena Rybakina made the Australian Open final last season but fell to Aryna Sabalenka. This year she is in line to avenge her defeat. She has played in fantastic form to start the season, and she holds wins over both Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Last season she had a bit of a hangover from her first Grand Slam win but now that she is back under the radar I believe that Rybakina will continue to ascend in the rankings.
Elena Rybakina has the perfect game to win at the Australian Open. She plays a powerful game that allows her to take advantage of the quick surface and become the aggressor in most points. Rybakina wants to be on the attack, and the conditions here in Australia set up perfectly for her to be the player dictating the tempo of the points.
Triple Threat
Three women stand in Elena Rybakina’s way. Aryna Sabalenka is the defending champion. Iga Swiatek is arguably the best women’s tennis player in the world. Coco Gauff is the player with the most potential and continues to improve every off-season.
However, against both Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, the surface will give Elena Rybakina an advantage. Both women will struggle on the quicker courts against Elena Rybakina’s power. Slower courts would give both Swiatek and Gauff a chance to have more time to counter her aggressive shots. Without the extra time, both players will be vulnerable to Rybakina’s aggressive play.
One Shot
If anyone has the chance to defeat Elena Rybakina I believe that Iga Swiatek would be the one to do it. Iga Swiatek has the most variety in her game and can counteract Rybakina with a change of pace by using slice and power. Iga Swiatek also is deceptively powerful when she gets a short ball, so you have to be careful when playing her.
If you cede court position, Iga Swiatek will make you pay for it. If you’re not comfortable betting on a powerful player from Kazakhstan, then Iga Swiatek would be the right choice for you.
WTA Pick
After time out of the spotlight, this year is Elena Rybakina’s time to shine. Look for Rybakina to start her year off right by winning the final this year. Bet Elena Rybakina to win the Australian Open.
WTA Pick: Elena Rybakina to Win the Australian Open (+450) at Bookmaker
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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