Australian Open betting starts off the tennis year

2010 Australian Open betting and odds

As the first Grand Slam of the year, Australian Open odds can be more open as there is less up-to-date form to assess.

The tournament, held for the first time in 1905, used to be played on grass, but since 1988 it has featured on the hard courts at Melbourne Park.

As hard courts tend to be less forgiving than clay and the game faster, some players excel on the surface while others struggle to adapt and punters must consider all of this when studying the Australian betting odds for value.

Singles are the main focus for Australian Open tennis betting

The singles events tend to attract most Australian Open tennis betting, with names like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, the Williams sisters and Justine Henin usually among the favourites.

Past form is often a useful guide when considering the Australian Open tennis odds, however, it should be noted that since 1996, only two men - Andre Agassi and Roger Federer - have won more than once, so Australian Open tennis betting can be open.

Nadal won for the first time in 2009 at short Australian Open odds, but after injury forced him to miss much of the remainder of the season, the Spaniard did not go on to dominate men’s tennis as he had threatened to do.

The fact that only one of Nadal’s six Grand Slam titles has been won on hard courts, is reflected in his Australian Open tennis odds.

Federer one to note in Australian Open betting

Punters know never to discount Roger Federer in Australian Open tennis betting. The Swiss master won back-to-back titles in 2006-07 and was a popular choice again in the 2009 Australian Open betting, as second seed, but lost in a thrilling five-set final.

Federer is considered by many observers to be the greatest player of all time and his record of 15 Grand Slam singles titles - more than any other male player – supports that view.

Australian Open odds short on Serena

The women’s game is now more open and no one player dominates Australian Open betting. Serena Williams was the darling of the court in 2009, justifying her short Australian Open betting odds by beating Dinara Safina, for her fourth title and ended the year as the World’s No 1 ahead of Safina.

Serena is a four-time winner in Melbourne, and may start favourite in Australian Open tennis odds.

The 2004 winner, Justine Henin, must also be considered after her exciting return to the game. The Belgian retired in May 2008 when ranked No 1 in the world and her Australian Open odds reflect both her skill and time away from the court.

Plenty of value likely in Australian Open tennis odds

British tennis fans will be hoping Andy Murray can achieve his first Grand Slam victory. The Scot made the fourth round in 2009 and won six titles in the year, to become the No 2 player in the world, which is the highest any British player has achieved in modern times.

The Australian Open tennis odds on a Spanish or French winner are likely to be snapped up, after Fernando Verdasco reached the 2009 semi-finals and Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga both made the quarters.

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